Nate Schmidt scored his first career postseason goal for the Vegas Golden Knights in thrilling fashion.
Down 3-2 with 6:32 remaining in the third period, Schmidt ripped a one timer past Martin Jones to tie the game.
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If Vegas needed a reason to get loud, @nateschmidt29 gave them a good one with this game-tying goal. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/lSVtsVzyx6
— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2018
After Gerard Gallant switched the defense pairings, Shea Theodore put the puck right into Schmidt’s wheelhouse after a faceoff win. Schmidt teed it up and scored.
The Vegas crowd went wild.
And Vegas has tied the game 3-3 with six minutes left in the third period. Fan favorite Nate Schmidt with the game-tying goal. #VegasBorn #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/NVq5cFCK5H
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 29, 2018
And so did Nate.
Schmidt scored his first career playoff goal last season as a member of the Washington Capitals. The defenseman scored in Game Four, whipping a puck past now-teammate Marc-Andre Fleury from one knee.
Despite Schmidt’s huge goal, the Golden Knights would lose their first game of the 2018 playoffs, falling 4-3 in double overtime.
Nate Schmidt's second career playoff goal tied the game at 3-3 late for the @GoldenKnights.
Schmidt posted a career-high 36 points in the regular season (had 33 points over the previous two seasons combined). pic.twitter.com/wZs0HXZbBT
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 29, 2018
Vegas thought they won in the first overtime after Jonathan Marchessault scored on a rebound. Marchessault, however, clipped Martin Jones’ goalie stick as he made his way to the slot, causing the goal to be overturned by the NHL’s Situation Room.
Logan Couture would later score 5:13 into double OT to tie the series.
Schmidt ended up leading all Vegas Golden Knights skaters in ice time with 30:30.
D Nate Schmidt led VGK with 30:30 TOI. SJS had five players play more, including F Joe Pavelski. Vlasic played a game-high 37:27
— Shawn Roarke (@sroarke_nhl) April 29, 2018
Headline photo: Jeff Bottari
