Golden Knight’s Hill to start Game 5 against Stars

A big change ahead of a pivotal game in the opening round of the playoffs.

After the Vegas Golden Knights’ morning skate on Wednesday, head coach Bruce Cassidy officially announced that goaltender Adin Hill will start Game 5 against the Dallas Stars.

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported this morning that Hill was in the starter’s net during Wednesday’s morning skate.

Cassidy told the media the decision spurs from how the team has platooned its goaltending throughout the 2023-24 campaign.

“We thought Logan [Thompson] played well,” Cassidy said. “Put us in a good spot, that’s his job. Adin’s been through this, so that goes into the decision. He’s an experienced guy that’s come into this situation before.”

It is a surprising move, as Logan Thompson had started the first four games of the first round–which saw the Golden Knights and Stars trade wins on the road. The right-handed catching netminder posted a 2.35 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in the series, having made 46 saves in Vegas’ 3-2 overtime loss in Game 3. The 27-year-old did allow three goals in three of the four games.

Cassidy named Thompson the starter at the beginning of the postseason due to Thompson’s solid regular season and Hill’s notable struggles in the final weeks before the playoffs. Thompson went 25-14-5 during the regular season with a 2.70 GAA and a.908 SV%, with a shutout. Hill went 19-12-2 with a 2.71 GAA and .909 SV% with two shutouts, but was handed the loss in six of his last nine starts.

Hill had injury troubles this season, keeping him out for extended periods of time. Yet, he was the darling at the end of last season, as Hill was the backbone for the Golden Knights on their way to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup last year. In 16 appearances last spring, the Comox, British Columbia native went 11-4 with a 2.17 GAA and a .932 SV%, with two shutouts.

Game 5 in Dallas is crucial for both teams. With the road team winning every game, Vegas has a chance to take a 3-2 series lead back home with a good performance on Wednesday.