Reilly Smith scores with 0.4 seconds left, Golden Knights stun Oilers 4-3 in Game 3

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Reilly Smith scored with 0.4 seconds left on a shot that deflected in off Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl's stick to give the Vegas Golden Knights a stunning 4-3 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night.

Vegas cut Edmonton's lead to 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinal series, avoiding overtime after Oilers star Connor McDavid tied it with 3:02 to go with a centering pass that went in off defender Brayden McNabb's skate.

Smith’s shot was going wide until it hit Draisaitl’s stick.

“Sometimes you just hope for the best and that one seemed to work out, thankfully I had enough time,” Smith said.

It was officially the third latest third-period winning goal in playoff history, at least since the NHL added decimals to the final minute. Nazem Kadri had one with 0.1 seconds left for Colorado in 2020, and Jussi Jokinen scored with 0.2 remaining for Carolina in 2009.

“That was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen in a hockey game, but obviously it was a great play,” Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague.

After Corey Perry gave Edmonton an early 2-0 lead, Nicolas Roy and Smith tied it with goals in a 54-second span late in the first period.

William Karlsson put the Golden Knights in front with 2:55 left in the second, beating goalie Stuart Skinner off a give-and-go play with Noah Hanifin.

“We know we got good character in the room,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Obviously, we have to correct some of the things how we started. You don’t want to put yourself in that hole, but there’s a lot of hockey left, we know we have the ability to come back, we can score goals.”

Adin Hill made 17 saves for Vegas.

Game 4 is Monday night in Edmonton.

“It’s probably more deflating losing the way we did, not getting to overtime,” Perry said. “It’s happened twice to us in these playoffs. You use it as motivation.”

Vegas rallied in the first period after Golden Knights forward Mark Stone left because of an upper-body injury.

Roy, playing a day after being fined but not suspended for cross-checking Trent Frederic in the face in overtime in Game 2, cut it to 2-1 off a rebound with 4:43 left in the first. Smith then slipped a backhander through Skinner's legs with 3:49 to go in the period.

Skinner stopped 20 shots, taking over in goal for the injured Calvin Pickard. Pickard appeared uncomfortable and was seen shaking out his left leg after Vegas forward Tomas Hertl landed on his left pad in Game 2.

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Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill (33) makes a save against Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during the second period of Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin (15), Reilly Smith (19) and Zach Whitecloud (2) celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Reilly Smith (19) falls over Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, center bottom, during the first period of Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights players, center, celebrate after a goal as Edmonton Oilers' Brett Kulak (27) and Darnell Nurse (25) skate past during the second period of Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after a win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

BEIRUT (AP) — Senior officials from the European Union visited Syria for the first time Friday and met with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in the latest sign of the country’s improving relations with the West.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council António Costa both made statements of support for Syria as it struggles to recover after nearly 14 years of civil war, which ended in December 2024 with the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive led by al-Sharaa, then the leader of an Islamist rebel group.

Al-Sharaa has launched a largely successful diplomatic offensive and has restored relations with western and Arab countries that had shunned Assad’s government because of widespread reports of human rights abuses by his security forces before and during the war.

During the visit, Costa said the EU will provide 620 million euros ($723 million) in financial support to Syria in 2026 and 2027, including humanitarian aid as well as assistance to begin with reconstruction. Aid for reconstruction was blocked by sanctions under Assad's rule, which have now been lifted.

“After decades of fear and silence, Syrians began a long journey toward hope and renewal. Europe will do everything it can to support Syria’s recovery and reconstruction,” Von der Leyen posted on X.

Since Assad’s fall, Syria has struggled economically and there have been several outbursts of sectarian violence. Al-Sharaa’s government has also struggled to consolidate control over all of Syria.

Clashes have broken out in recent days between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in the northern city of Aleppo amid stalled negotiations for a merger between the new Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that controls much of the country’s northeast.

Syria's Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire Friday, though there was no public response from the SDF and it was not clear if Kurdish forces in Aleppo had agreed to the deal.

Costa said during the visit that “the violent escalations of recent days are worrisome” and called for “continued dialogue.”

“We know that the path to reconciliation and recovery remain difficult and long," he said. "Healing, rebuilding lives and creating trust in institutions takes time.

The EU delegation continued a regional tour with a visit to Lebanon, where the army on Thursday announced it had completed the first stage of a plan to remove weapons from nonstate groups, including the powerful militia Hezbollah.

Von der Leyen welcomed the announcement that the disarmament plan has been implemented in the border area south of the Litani river, adding that the EU was “ready to step up our cooperation" to support the cash-strapped military.

She called for a ceasefire deal that ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November 2024 to be “fully respected by all parties.”

“Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity has to be upheld,” von der Leyen said. “And it is paramount to ensure that Hezbollah is fully disarmed.”

Israel has continued to carry out near-daily airstrikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire, which it says target Hezbollah attempts to rebuild its capabilities, and has threatened to step up the attacks if the group does not fully disarm.

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Associated Press writer Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed.

European Council President Antonio Costa, left, reads a statement next of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)