Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Jonathan Marchessault's Hatty Carries Vegas to a 7-3 Win Over Pitt

January 20, 2019, 1:31 AM ET [0 Comments]
Jeff Paul
Vegas Golden Knights Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Welcome back Jonathan Marchessault. I know, I know, he hasn't missed any games. Despite being healthy, seeing Marchessult's name in the box score was becoming rare as of late. His hat trick on Saturday night against the Penguins effectively topped his production from the previous 10 games (1g, 1a). "Yeah, it's more of a relief a little bit. Sometimes you work really hard to try to help your team and it doesn't go your way. I'm happy with my game (Saturday), but you need some consistency." He definitely did his part today.


Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Public Relations)

Marchessault took the game over late in the second period. After the Penguins stormed back to tie the game, with two goals in the first 5:56 of the period, it became the Marchessault show. Marchessault's first goal, that gave Vegas a 4-3 lead, was a nice wrist shot that beat Penguin goalie Casey DeSmith short-side high. William Karlsson's speed toward a loose puck forced DeSmith out of the net. His clearing attempt went right to Marchessault and Marchessault beat him as he tried to scramble back into his net. That goal was big for the Golden Knights and swung momentum their way, for the remainder of the game. Head coach Gerard Gallant agreed, saying "There are lots of moments in games where things change and I think the fourth goal for us was huge".

Marchessault's next goal came a short 3:50 later, assisted by Karlsson and Colin Miller. Miller was playing in his first game back from injury, after missing the previous 13 contests. Miller fired a shot toward the net that was redirected by Karlsson. Marchessault picked up the rebound, glided to the side of DeSmith, and once the goalie was out of position, stopped and dangled the puck back around him and into the wide open goal. It was a wonderful display of Marchessault's hands, patience, and nose for the net.

Karlsson got the next goal for Vegas, at 13:45 of the third period, before Marchessault was able to add his third on Pittsburgh's empty net. The hat trick was a conscious effort from the Golden Knights, as Alex Tuch sat out his normal shift, to help Marchessault get his third. Everyone on the team was excited, but none more than Ryan Reaves who threw his helmet on the ice for #81.

Before Marchessault took over, this game was back-and-forth. Phil Kessel got Pittsburgh out to an early 1-0 lead, 3:51 into the game. Vegas' ice-cold power play responded, tying the game 1-1, courtesy of a Shea Theodore point shot. With very little traffic out front, Theodore was able to find the net, collecting Vegas' second power play goal in the last 32 attempts.

Max Pacioretty scored the second Golden Knight goal of the game, with a pretty one-timer, that came to fruition via a beautiful one-touch slap-pass from Paul Stastny. Stastny was in the slot, but noticed Patches unguarded at the bottom of the faceoff circle. As the Tuch pass made it to Stastny, he faked a shot, to Pacioretty, giving him a wide open net to shoot at for his 13th goal of the season. 43 seconds later, Oscar Lindberg scored to stretch the Vegas lead to two goals, with 3:57 left in the first.

Both goalies made huge saves. For Pittsburgh, DeSmith was called upon to stop multiple breakaways from Tuch, Karlsson, and Brandon Pirri. Fleury came up big numerous times, most notably against Kessel, Crosby, and Guentzel. Fleury's former teammate Evgeny Malkin had a power play goal taken away, due to a distinct kicking motion. That goal would have given Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead. Once it came off the board, Vegas killed the rest of the power play and then Marchessault took the reins.

Vegas got production from all four lines in this one. The top line finally got back to their scoring ways, which some may attribute to the addition of Pirri. Tuch was flying around all night for the second line and they cashed in with the Pacioretty goal. Line three played solid most of the night and Lindberg got them on the board. Finally, the fourth line, Reaves' "Meat Grinders", played a solid defensive game, with Bellemare and Nosek anchoring the penalty kill, going head-to-head with the fourth best power play in the NHL. This game was a full team effort and Vegas will carry this momentum into tough home games against the Minnesota Wild on Monday and the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter for the latest news, analysis, and observations from practices, games, and the space in between!

Click Here!!!

Join the Discussion: » 0 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Jeff Paul
» What is Happening in Vegas?!
» Game Six: Fleury or Lehner?
» Golden Knights 2 - Canadiens 2: How Did We Get Here?
» Game Three: It’s Tuch Time
» Round Three Primer: Golden Knights vs Canadiens