Marchessault\’s Golden Night

May 15, 2023 $Marchessault\’s Golden Night$

By: Carlos Alvarez

Jonathan Marchessault\’s Hat Trick Sends Golden Knights to Conference Finals With Panthers & Hurricanes; Kraken & Stars Heading for Game 7

After a full weekend of hockey, three tickets have been punched to the NHL Conference Finals. One series is going to Game 7 after the Kraken clapped back against the Stars in Game 6 (6-3). But the Panthers and Golden Knights joined the NHL’s final four after Florida put away Toronto on Nick Cousins’ Game 5 overtime winner and Vegas paced the Oilers on the road behind Jonathan Marchessault’s Game 6 hat trick. The league’s top two points leaders — Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — are heading home early once again. It’s Vegas, Florida, and Carolina who’ll await the winners of Dallas-Seattle (tonight) in NHL’s final four.

Oil Change: Since the beginning of the McDavid-Draisaitl era in Edmonton, the Oilers have made four consecutive playoff appearances and failed to win the West in each postseason. The Oilers had nearly double the shots on goal as the Golden Knights in Game 6 (40-22) and were still doubled up on the scoreboard.

Fun Fact: The Golden Knights are heading to their fourth Western Conference Finals in just six years since the franchise was founded.

NHL Playoffs

Gm 5: Panthers def. Maple Leafs (3-2, OT) | FLA Wins (4-1)

Gm 6: Kraken def. Stars (6-3) | Series Tied (3-3)

Gm 6: Golden Knights def. Oilers (5-2) | VGK Wins (4-2)

Top Performances

J. Marchessault (VGK): 3 goals

J. Eberle (SEA): 2 goals, 1 assist

E. Tolvanen (SEA): 1 goal, 2 assists

C. Verhaeghe (FLA): 1 goal, 1 assist

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 7: Kraken at Stars (8:00 pm ET) | Series Tied (3-3)

SportsNet: Canada’s Stanley Cup Drought Hits 30 Years After Golden Knights Oust Oilers

Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images