Knights on Ice — Marchessault Puts on a “Marshashow”

The NBCSN analysts proclaimed it “Marshashow.” Pronounce it any way you want; we don’t really care — especially since you all told us 4 years ago how hockey would never work in the desert.

Last night the Misfits were back at it again and Jonathan Marchessault, the smallest of the group, played the biggest part in leading the VGK to a dominating performance over the Colorado Avalanche in the VGK’s 5-1 win at T-Mobile in front of 18,081. The series that arrived in Vegas at 0-2 is now 2-2 and a best of 7 will now be the best of 3 to determine who moves on to the Final 4, which Vegas did twice in the team’s first 3 years.

How big of a part? Well, nothing that big, just a playoff hat trick, the first of his career, which sucked not only the air but also the heart right out of the Colorado Avalanche, who left town not knowing exactly what happened to them. Lots of people get on a plane leaving Vegas after 4 days here and their minds are blank, their pockets are empty, and their credit cards are maxed out. Some even have the experience of waking up with Mike Tyson’s tiger in their suite at Caesars Palace (as in the movie Hangover).

The Avalanche didn’t get the tiger experience, but they sure did meet the littlest lion with the biggest heart on the VGK, who took a pretty big chunk out of the swagger with which they arrived in Vegas.

Yes, you see, Colorado had gone through the St. Louis Blues like a hot knife goes through butter, sweeping their series in four games. They were adored by everyone at NBC and NBCSN who had them already in the Stanley Cup Final. But what do these lugs know? They think Jonathan’s name ends with “SHOW.” No, he puts on a show and he’s in the process of possibly ruining your coronation of the team you believe is the best since the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup 10 times in 15 years (1965-1979). I’m glad I don’t have to listen to them gushing over the Avs every game since I have the privilege of attending games at T-Mobile and can draw my own opinions without being subject to their love affair with Nathan McKinnon.

I know how good Nathan McKinnon is, but I also know that the VGK have held him off the scoresheet in these last 2 games at T-Mobile and hung a –3 on him. I also know that Ryan Reaves, who is most likely the last guy who is going to score for the VGK, has 1 point and is a +1 in his only game at T-Mobile in this series. This is a team sport, not an individual sport, and Colorado is learning this quickly. The VGK are playing as a unit of 19 — chipping the puck in and chasing it into the offensive zone, forcing the Avs to skate backward instead of the forward at which they excel.

Also clear in this series, especially the last 2 games and the 2nd and 3rd periods of Game 2, is that the VGK have a great deal of speed and Colorado hasn’t adjusted to playing a team that’s just as fast as they are and is committed to a style that the Avs aren’t comfortable with.

The VGK held the high-powered fast-skating Avs to just 20 shots in Game 3 and 18 shots in last night’s game. The 18 shots are a season low.

Here’s another interesting fact about the VGK game plan that has paid off in spades. In 5-on-5 high-danger scoring chances, Vegas holds an astonishing 32-9 advantage. This stat is from Natural Stat Trick.

Some further evidence that Vegas is playing as a unit of 19: They’ve won both games at T-Mobile and Marc-Andre Fleury has not been one of the 3 stars of either.

Other interesting tidbits and quotes from this game.

Knights captain Mark Stone: “I thought we gave them too much respect in Game one. After the first period in Game two, we realized we could play with these guys.”

Vegas improved their all-time playoff home record to 20-10, the most home wins by any home team in the postseason since the Knights entered the NHL in 2017-18. Imagine if hockey actually worked in the desert?

Jonathan Marchessault: “We proved we can play against the best team in the league and we’re on a mission right now.”

Ryan Reaves has more points than Nathan Mackinnon in the last two games, just food for thought.

Coach Jared Bednar: “It’s loud. It’s hard to hear anything in there. You can tell by my voice, just talking on the bench trying to call the next line, I’m losing my voice. There’s a lot of noise in this building.”

Max Pacioretty scored his 3rd game-winning goal in his 5th playoff game this year.

The crowd at T-Mobile had a unique experience last night. They got to celebrate Patrick Brown’s goal 3 different times. First, when he first scored at the 13:13 mark of the 3rd period (lucky 1 — or not so lucky for Colorado), the on-ice official removed the goal. After review by the War Room in Toronto, it was ruled a goal. The crowd went wild one more time. But the Avs challenged the goal for goaltender interference. The War Room went back to work. After a brief delay, the goal stood and the crowd now celebrated the same goal 3 different times. Can this be considered a Patrick Brown hat trick?

I will leave you with this. Game 4 of this series had just about everything you wanted if you’re a VGK fan. Las Vegas is a town built on numbers. Well, Jonathan Marchessault wears #81. The attendance for last night’s game was 18,081. Marchy had a game that he will never forget last night and neither will the 18,081 that were there with him and the other 18 skaters. Lots of 18/81 last night in case you believe in numerology. Personally, I’m sold on it.

Marchessault is also the first to score 20 playoff goals in VGK history.

My 3 Stars of the Game
1) Jonathan Marchessault (who put on a show, 3 goals)
2) William Karlsson (assists on all three Marchy goals)
3) Max Pacioretty (GWG)

Next game is tomorrow at the Ball Center at 6 p.m. Pacific Time

If you want to hear and see more VGK content please check out the podcast I do with Eddie Rivkin on YouTube, Hockey Knights in Vegas.

Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you may contact me directly at [email protected] or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page of Vegas Hockey Guy or on Twitter @TheRealJoePane

One other note: If you’re reading this blog from Facebook or Twitter and would like to access it earlier in the morning before I share it on social media, it’s usually published by 8 a.m. the morning after a game on LasVegasAdvisor.com. What better way is there to enjoy your morning coffee than reading my take on last night’s VGK game.

All three Marchessault goals

Brown’s goal celebrated three times

Even Lehner tossed a hat