The Sixteen: Marchessault's Hat Trick Sends Vegas to Western Final

The stage was set for the Vegas Golden Knights to advance to their fourth Western Conference Final since their inception in 2017-18. With a 3-2 series lead against the Edmonton Oilers, it was time to finish the job in enemy territory in Game 6.

In Henderson, the excitement was already building as fans were lined up outside The Dollar Loan Center in hopes to see their team move on to the next round.

Edmonton had scored first in each game so far in the series, and even though Vegas found ways to win after allowing the first goal, they emphasized how they wanted to interrupt that pattern.

Reilly Smith broke that 'curse' by scoring just 24 seconds into the first period of Game 6. Finally, a weight had been lifted. It was the Golden Knights who came out swinging for once, and the vibe was high.

Then, just as everything seemed right in the world, Connor McDavid burst down the ice to tie the game 1-1 just 31 second after Smith's opener. Rogers Place was roaring, and the crowd was on their feet thanks to their captain's timely response.

Vegas found itself trying to get ahead again, and just when they thought this time would be different, Warren Foegele notched the go-ahead goal for the Oilers. It was now 2-1 heading into the middle frame. It was a must-win scenario for the orange and blue, and so far, things were swinging in their favor. But Jonathan Marchessault had other plans.

As both teams skated out onto a fresh sheet of ice for the second period, a switch must've flipped for Marchessault, who was about to change the entire course of the game.

Less than five minutes into the second, Marchessault tied the game, 2-2. The life was once again sucked out of Rogers Place and was never to return.

There was plenty of life in Vegas though, as fans at The Dollar Loan Center erupted thanks to Marchessault's tying goal.

Marchessault found the back of the next once again just three minutes later, putting in a rebound in the crease from Alec Martinez. 3-2.

Just when you thought he was done, Marchessault put a 'cap' - or rather 'hat' - on the evening with a natural hat trick less than two minutes before the second period closed. 4-2 Vegas.

What started as a promising evening for the Oilers had turned into the Jonathan Marchessault show, and Vegas was now headed into the third for one final twenty-minute push.

Both the Vegas and Edmonton faithful held their breath throughout the final frame. Golden Knights fans knew that that two of the best players in the world could strike quickly and change the outcome of the game in a flash. On the other hand, Oilers fans knew this too and could do nothing but cross their fingers hoping those two players would do just that as the clock ticked down.

The odds favored Vegas.

With 39 seconds to go, William Karlsson scored an empty netter to put a stamp on Vegas' ticket to the Western Conference Final. With Marchessault's hat trick, Smith's opening goal and Karlsson's empty net goal, 'The Misfits' worked their magic and led the charge to bring the Golden Knights to the next round. It was a 5-2 final, and every goal came from The Misfit Line.

'The Misfits' were used to being counted out. Nobody expected them to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, and nobody thought the 2022-23 team could stop the Oilers' high-powered offense and historic power play. 'The Misfits' are used to being told they can't… but seem to always prove that they can.

Despite Marchessault's three-point night, Adin Hill walked away with the Elvis wig and sunglasses after putting up 38 saves and a .950 save percentage in Game 6. It truly took everyone to win the series, which is what made the Golden Knights such a tough opponent throughout the postseason.

"[Hill] was incredible," Nicolas Hague said. "We knew we were going to need a couple big saves."

Marchessault, the man of the hour, was happy with the performance and the series win but he knew the work was far from over.

"We're definitely happy," said Marchessault. "We're definitely going to enjoy it tonight, but we're just halfway done."

Scoring Summary:
1st 0:24 | Reilly Smith (2) (Unassisted)
1st 0:55 | Connor McDavid (8) from Brett Kulak, Evander Kane
1st 2:43 | Warren Foegele (2) from Derek Ryan, Ryan McLeod

2nd 4:25 | Jonathan Marchessault (3) from Ivan Barbashev, Shea Theodore
2nd 7:44 | Jonathan Marchessault (4) from Alec Martinez, Ivan Barbashev
2nd 18:36 | Jonathan Marchessault (5) from Alex Pietrangelo, Jack Eichel

3rd 19:21 | William Karlsson (5) from Nicolas Roy, Reilly Smith (ENG)