Golden Knights' 2OT hero dedicates win to unusual team pet
After his team blew a three-goal lead in the third period on Saturday, Michael Amadio played unlikely playoff hero, tallying the double-overtime winner to lift the Vegas Golden Knights over the Winnipeg Jets, 5-4.
Upon Amadio helping Vegas take a 2-1 series lead in their first-round showdown with the Jets, the Golden Knights' Twitter account relayed that the winger apparently dedicated the massive victory to team pet "Goldie," the goldfish.
While some teams have gone the typical and uninspiring route of adding a puppy to the mix, the Golden Knights changed it up, debuting "Goldie" ahead of the postseason. Meant to bring the club good luck in the Stanley Cup Playoff, Vegas' new fishy friend is already paying dividends.
Thanks to second-period goals from Jack Eichel and Keegan Kolesar, Vegas held a 4-1 advantage over the Jets heading into the third period. Seemingly on their way to a certain Game 3 defeat, Winnipeg made a miraculous comeback, capped off by a game-tying goal from Adam Lowry with 22 seconds left in the game.
With the crowd at Canada Life Centre rocking and momentum on the Jets' side, things looked bleak for Vegas heading into the extra session. However, after a scoreless first overtime, Amadio found the back of the net 3:40 into the second extra session, notching his first career postseason goal in the process.
Amadio becomes only the fifth player in NHL history to score their first postseason goal in double-OT or later, joining Alan Quine (2016), James Neal (2011), Matt Carkner (2010) and Marek Svatos (2004), per the NHL's PR department.
The Golden Knights will look to go up 3-1 in the series with a win in Game 4 on Monday, also in Winnipeg at 9:30 p.m. ET.
More must-reads: