Game day: Reilly Smith returns as Golden Knights host Penguins

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) skates with the Stanley Cup Trophy after the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 to win the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Las Vegas. Photo by Steve Marcus

Reilly Smith will suit up for the Golden Knights for the first time since he was traded after the 2023 Stanely Cup Final when Vegas hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. today.

The Original Misfit — one of the players on the team’s first-year roster — was traded back to Vegas by the New York Rangers for Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round draft pick.

Smith played for the Golden Knights from 2017 to 2023, recording 319 points in 487 games. He is the first Golden Knights player to return to the organization after leaving.

Smith skated on the fourth line with center Nicolas Roy and forward Cole Schwindt during Friday's practice. He also took reps with the Golden Knights' second power-play unit.

His addition to the lineup gives the Golden Knights needed depth and veteran presence on its bottom two lines.

Smith spoke to the media following today’s practice and said he was excited to return. He said he never sold his house in Las Vegas.

There were a handful of injury updates coming out of practice.

Cole Schwindt, who has been out since Jan. 18 and has been skating with the team in practice since Tuesday, will be a game-time decision today.

Victor Olofsson was absent from today’s practice due to a lower-body injury and is day-to-day, coach Bruce Cassidy said.

The Golden Knights are looking for their seventh win in eight games. It would be their best string of games since they won nine of 10 in January.

Their most recent victory came 5-2 over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Ilya Samsonov will start in goal tonight. He's struggled down the stretch, allowing 10 goals over his last two starts.

Pittsburgh comes into the game having lost seven of its last eight and three straight.

The Penguins lost 4-1 to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. They are far out of a playoff spot, sitting second to last in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Players to watch

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (center) 60 games played, 20 goals, 54 assists, 74 points; Ivan Barbashev (forward) 51 games played, 18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points; Mark Stone (forward) 47 games played, 16 goals, 35 assists, 51 points. 

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby (center) 62 games played, 19 goals, 47 assists, 66 points; Rickard Rakell (forward) 63 games played, 29 goals, 24 assists, 53 points; Bryan Rust (forward) 53 games played, 21 goals, 26 assists, 47 points. 

Non-active players

Golden Knights: William Karlsson (lower body), Shea Theodore (arm), Victor Olofsson (lower body) 

Pittsburgh: Pierre-Olivier Joseph (upper body) 

How to watch

TV: Scripps Sports (Cox Communications, channel 34). KnightTime+ (streaming), ESPN+ (streaming). 

Betting line

Golden Knights -245 Pittsburgh +200. Over/under 6.5 (-105/-115) 

Who is in goal

Golden Knights: Ilya Samsonov - 24 games played, 14-8-2 record, 3.04 goals against average, .887 save percentage, 1 shutout. 

Pittsburgh: TBD