Cole Smith could have been called for 20 penalties during the Western Conference Final. He made up for it with the biggest goal of his life on Tuesday.
The fourth-line forward’s deflection with 5:45 remaining was the needed insurance to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 2-1 win to sweep the Colorado Avalanche and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
Smith, one of the Knights’ trade deadline acquisitions, deflected defenseman Dylan Coghlan’s shot from the point to give the Knights a two-goal lead in the waning moments.
“I don’t know if there are words that can describe it too much,” Smith said. “That’s why you play this game, why you play sports. For those moments.”
It’s been an eventful postseason for Smith, 30, who was acquired from the Nashville Predators prior to the trade deadline in March.
He’s been called for 11 minor penalties, including three in the past two games. Along with the two penalties in Game 3, Smith suffered an upper-body injury that forced him to miss most of the final seven minutes in the Knights’ 5-3 win.
Smith returned for a 19-second shift at the end of the game, and coach John Tortorella deemed him good to go on Tuesday.
Smith was called for hooking 2:51 into the second period for Colorado’s only power play, but the Knights killed it off.
“I’m happy for him,” Tortorella said. “I was going to kill him for taking so many penalties, but I’m happy for him.”
Smith’s goal defined the postseason that the Knights’ fourth line has had. Forwards Keegan Kolesar and Nic Dowd both kept the puck alive in the corner long enough to get it to Coghlan, whose quick release allowed Smith to tip it by goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
“Credit to (Kolesar) and (Dowd). They’re on the forecheck. I didn’t really do a whole lot other than get a little tip on it,” Smith said.
A’ja at Game 3
A’ja Wilson has been in a number of big-time championship games in her career. Even she was feeling the emotions while watching Game 3 on Sunday.
The Las Vegas Aces’ superstar, along with her partner — Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo — were at T-Mobile Arena to watch the Knights’ thrilling 5-3 comeback win to take a 3-0 series lead.
Wilson, wearing a No. 22 Knights sweater, was mic’d up by the NHL with Adebayo wearing a custom No. 13 sweater.
Stars arrive in Game 4
Wilson and Adebayo weren’t the only ones to take in games this week.
More athletes were in tow to watch the Knights punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Las Vegas Raiders had a suite for Game 4 with Raiders offensive lineman Kolton Miller leading the charge.
WWE superstar CM Punk, a noted Chicago Blackhawks fan, was also in attendance.
