Tortorella reassures – Vegas Golden Knights fans were worried about a Smith after the team’s 5–3 Game 3 win over the Colorado Avalanche, but coach John Tortorella says there’s no concern about Cole Smith. The bigger question now is whether the other Smith—Reilly Smith—can find more
For a night, the Golden Knights’ bench didn’t just have to hold a 5–3 Game 3 lead over the Colorado Avalanche—it had to survive the sudden fear that one of its “Smiths” might not be able to go.
Fans watching the finish of Game 3 were concerned about one particular Smith being hurt. In their minds, it wasn’t just any knock—it was the kind of wrist injury that could have knocked him out of commission and left the team shorthanded.
But it wasn’t that Smith.
It was Cole Smith who appeared injured. John Tortorella moved quickly to calm the room: Tortorella said there’s no concern about Cole Smith.
That matters because Vegas is playing with urgency now. The Golden Knights are one win away, and every lineup detail feels magnified when you’re so close to what comes next.
While the immediate worry has been pushed aside for Cole Smith. the conversation around the other Smith—Reilly Smith—has been harder to ignore. Reilly Smith hasn’t had the best showing during the Stanley Cup playoffs. He started well against the Utah Mammoth with two goals and two assists. but he hasn’t scored since Game 6 of that series. He also leads the Golden Knights in penalty minutes with 20.
Still, Vegas needs Reilly Smith even when the points don’t show up. He’s a great penalty killer when he’s not in the penalty box, and he brings a particular edge to the ice: making strong exits, gravitating toward the puck, and delivering painful hits in the process.
Physical presence has been his calling card this postseason. Reilly Smith has delivered 63 hits so far. That kind of body work is part of how the Golden Knights try to turn games into something tougher to play—whether it’s against teams like the Utah Mammoth or the Anaheim Ducks.
The timing of everything is what keeps the stakes loud. Vegas is one win away, and the team can’t afford to lose a role player to injury—especially one Tortorella is insisting is fine.
There’s also a practical hope built into the next stretch: if Reilly Smith can add some points to the mix, it would go a long way toward making the Golden Knights’ late-game plans even harder to stop.
Vegas Golden Knights John Tortorella Cole Smith Reilly Smith Colorado Avalanche Utah Mammoth Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup playoffs injury update penalty minutes hits