Vegas Golden Knights: Sights and sounds from OT win in Game 2
It took Overtime but the Vegas Golden Knights came out on top in Game 2.
Reilly Smith scored the game-winner in OT to continue his golden touch for the Vegas Golden Knights, who now have a 2-0 series lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Golden Knights look every inch a championship caliber team right now and, although the Blackhawks gave them a few scares, they got the job done.
Let’s go through the sights and sounds of Game 2…
Off the mark
Paul Stastny has been part of an impressive second-line in The Bubble so far, although he hadn’t recorded a point.
That changed in Game 2.
Midway through the first period Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault battled hard behind the net and the latter dished the puck to Stastny who beat Corey Crawford from inside the slot.
Stastny finished with two points after claiming the primary helper on Smith’s OT winner.
Up and down
It was a mixed night for Tomas Nosek.
Back in the lineup, the fourth-line grinder made it a two-goal game in the first period after carrying the puck in on the rush before lasering a wrist shot past Crawford.
However, Nosek tangled with Jonathan Toews late in the second period and didn’t return for the rest of the game.
Star Factor
Blackhawks star Patrick Kane has endured a quiet postseason so far but he came alive in Game 2.
The superstar winger had himself a three-point night and was all over the ice, picking holes in the Vegas defense with his elite passing ability.
Stone Cold
You need your big players to step up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Mark Stone is an absolute superstar for the Golden Knights.
And Stone came up with another huge goal in the second period, playing a rebound off his body before jamming the puck past Crawford.
Golden Touch
Reilly Smith has been lights out for the Golden Knights after the restart and he was once again the star of the show in Game 2.
Finishing with a two-point night, Smith produced the biggest moment of the game after getting to the front of the net to put Paul Stastny’s centering pass beyond Crawford.
Smith now leads the Golden Knights in points in the postseason with seven (3 G, 4 A).
Big Winner
Reilly Smith: 1 G, 1 A, +2
Smith has been the best player for the Golden Knights since the restart and he’s playing at an MVP level right now.
He got the all-important Overtime winner and he could enter the Conn Smythe conversation if this continues.
Big Loser
After missing the round-robin games, Pacioretty returned for Game 1 and did okay in over 18 minutes of ice time.
Next. Smith the hero in OT. dark
However, the forward was a last-minute scratch for Game 2 due to being “unfit to play” and it remains to be seen how long he will be out for.