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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Golden Knights one win from finals

By Alex Butler

May 19 (UPI) -- Reilly Smith drained a wrist shot, giving the Vegas Golden Knights the game-winning score against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

Smith got the score with 6:58 remaining in regulation of the Golden Knights' 3-2 win Friday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Vegas went on a breakaway after blocking a shot from Dustin Byfuglien to spark the attack in transition.

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Smith out-skated the Winnipeg defense before lacing the wrist shot top shelf, beating Connor Hellebuyck.

"I think we have a good counter game," Smith told reporters. "Our transition is a big part of our game. I think in the system that we play, it breeds for those opportunities."

Brad Marchessault deked around defenders before sliding a quick pass to Williams Karlsson on the Golden Knights' first score during a power play. Karlsson finished the feed by slapping a blazing one-timer past Hellebuyck's glove side 2:25 into the first period.

Patrik Laine tied the score 9:29 into the second period on another power play. Byfuglien sent a pass from the blue line, finding Laine to his left on the play. Laine smacked a quick shot past Marc-Andre Fleury's stick side on that score.

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Tomas Nosek gave Vegas another lead less than a minute later. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare ripped a shot at Hellebuyck on that play, but the shot was deflected. Bellemare got his own rebound and went behind the goal for a wraparound shot. Nosek stood in front of the goal and cleaned up the offering 10:12 into the bridge frame.

Tyler Myers tied it at 2-2 with 5:34 remaining in regulation. Jack Roslovic found the defenseman for a one-timer on that score.

Smith then won the game for Vegas, giving them a 3-1 lead in the series and putting his team one win away from the Stanley Cup finals.

The Jets and Golden Knights take the ice for Game 5 at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bells MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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