Home ice is kind and noisy for Vegas in Game 4 win

On The Strip in Las Vegas, it’s good to have home ice especially when you have a packed house. On Sunday evening, Golden Knights’ Jonathan Marchessault potted a hat trick to help lead Vegas to a 5-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4.

“That’s a big part of the last two games right now is controlling their top players and don’t let them come up with a lot of speed in the neutral zone,” Marchessault said. “When we do that, we can keep playing the right way. We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

The win tied the series at 2-2 heading back to Denver on Tuesday.

“It feels good, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Vegas head coach Peter DeBoer said. “It’s only two wins and we have too much respect for Colorado and their game and what they’re able to do. We know there’s still a lot of hill to climb, but really proud at how we’ve responded.”

Marc-Andre Fleury made 17 saves to get the win.

Brandon Saad scored in his sixth straight game to give the Avs an early 1-0 lead.

“We didn’t think we were going to come in here and take both games,” Saad said. “We didn’t play as good as we should’ve, but we’re going back to the building where we have success and we play well at.”

Marchessault’s second goal on the night was off the power play.

Vegas was 1-for4 on the play, Colorado went scoreless in two opportunities.

“I didn’t have a problem with our intent and focus to our game and the way we competed,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said. “I thought for the most part it was pretty good. We gave up some chances off the rush where they were beating us up the ice.

“This is going to be a battle. I fully expect our guys to take another step in this series, in the home game, and our big line (Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen) will have to be a big part of that.”

After scored scored with less than two minutes gone in the game, Marchessault tied it at 1-1 with a goal coming after the Knights buzzed the Avs net. He scored at 7:07 of the first period.

Max Pacioretty put the Golden Knights up, 2-1, in the middle frame.

Marchessault pushed the lead to 3-1 in the second period and completed his hat trick at 6:01 of the third period.

“If we win as a group, it’s the most important thing, and we’ve proven we can play with the best team in the League,” Marchessault said. “We’re on a mission right now. We just have to keep going and focus on Game 5.”

Patrick Brown added insurance in the 14th minute of the final frame for the 5-1 final.William Karlsson picked up three assists in the Vegas win.