LAS VEGAS — Sign No. 496 that the NHL has changed: players used to walk out their front door to collect the morning newspaper, now Jonathan Marchessault goes outside to get his morning Lamborghini.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ forward, who is pushing teammate Marc-Andre Fleury as the player having the most fun in this Western Conference Final, drove to T-Mobile Arena for Game 3 on Wednesday in a custom, team grey-and-gold Lamborghini loaned to him by a Las Vegas dealership.
The 27-year-old from Cap-Rouge, Que., scored twice in the Knights’ 4-2 win – giving him four goals in the series and six goals in his last five playoff games – and planned to take the same sweet ride to Game 4 on Friday.
"They drive it to my driveway in the morning," Marchessault told reporters after Friday morning’s optional skate. "I take it to the game, and the next morning they come and get it."
So it’s delivered like the morning paper?
"Not necessarily like that," he said. "The dealership wanted me to have it for a few days. But there was an event yesterday, so they requested the car there. I said: ‘That’s fine.’ I don’t need it necessarily; I have two cars already. But it’s pretty fun to dress in a suit and go in a nice car like that to the game."
He said the first time he drove the Lambo, he felt like a 12-year-old again at the go-kart track. A few teammates have asked Marchessault if they can take his car for a spin.
"I don’t mind if they want to do it," he said. "I’m a pretty generous guy."
Undrafted from the Quebec Remparts, Marchessault began his professional career in 2011 on a free-agent AHL contract. He waited more than four years to get an extended audition in the NHL in 2015-16.
"My first car was a Hyundai Elantra, so we went a long way," he said. "It was my car in junior, it was my car in my first year in Hartford and my second year in the AHL. It was definitely not that fun going to training camp with all the (professional) guys there and you get in with your Hyundai. It’s a car; it brings you from Point A to Point B. It’s fine."
What did he get after the Hyundai?
"It was a Range Rover," he said. "So I did a pretty good upgrade there."
MARCH’S BAND
Marchessault audibly, if softly, scoffed when he was told that Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck, outplayed so far in the series by Marc-Andre Fleury, said he liked his game better than the Golden Knights netminder who has won three Stanley Cups.
"Really?" Marchessault responded.
Hellebuyck, who turns 25 on Saturday, explained to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector that he prefers his technical style over Fleury’s, which is more athletic and acrobatic.
"Honestly, I don’t really care about the style," Marchessault said. "As long as you stop the puck and you win. That’s what matters for me."
So he’d take Fleury over Hellebuyck?
"Any given day."
Going into Friday’s game, Fleury led all goalies in the Stanley Cup pPlayoffs with a 10-3 record, .945 save percentage and 1.70 goals-against average. Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy finalist this season, was 9-6 with a .922 save rate and 2.34 GAA.
PERRON BACK?
Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said there was a "good chance" veteran winger David Perron would return to the lineup Friday night after missing two games due to illness.
"You want my lines, too?" Gallant cracked.
Perron typically plays on the second line beside Erik Haula and James Neal. But Alex Tuch scored last game playing with Haula and Neal and that trio was excellent. So Perron could play further down the lineup. Tomas Tatar and Ryan Reaves appear to be the most likely candidates to be scratched.
HAULA-BALOO
Haula stood out starkly among the handful of Knights at the morning skate because he participated in a track suit. Was he not fully healthy? Slightly ill, as well? Practising for a career in coaching?
"I didn’t skate yesterday, so I just wanted to go out and move my legs for 10 minutes," Haula explained. "I didn’t see a point in putting all my gear on. Just wanted to take a couple of shots, feel the puck a little bit, and then got off quickly."
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