RALEIGH, N.C. — Adin Hill should replace Carter Hart in goal for the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Yeah. It’s really controversial.
The Knights trail Carolina 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, and the Hurricanes can win the Cup with a victory on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Vegas coach John Tortorella was asked after Game 5 on Thursday — a 4-2 win by Carolina — if he had considered inserting the backup Hill in the third period of the contest.
“Oh, Christ,” Tortorella said, “that could be the stupidest question I’ve ever heard.”
It wasn’t. It needed to be asked.
You look strictly at numbers — Hart has allowed four goals in each of the five games and has an .856 save percentage and a 3.70 goals against average — and it’s a fair observation.
They are historically terrible stats for a Cup Final.
Trusting his guy
It could also have been Tortorella in the moment attempting to motivate Hart. To let him know the coach’s faith hasn’t wavered.
The two go back to Hart playing under Tortorella in Philadelphia. There is a huge trust level there from the coach.
This is why the odds of Hart being benched are extremely long. Tortorella seems intent on keeping with the goalie he has played for two months now.
Hockey is strange this way: Not every goal is the fault of the person in net. Not even close. And the defense in front of Hart has failed him more times than not on Carolina scores over the series.
That’s where the Knights need to improve.
“It’s not one particular thing we need to improve at,” Tortorella said. “We need to improve our game in all areas as the series goes on. No matter if you win a game or lose a game, you’re always trying to improve in all areas.
“We’re always trying to get better defensively. We’re always trying to be better in all different areas so we’ve got a couple days here, and we’ll look at some things and try to be better.”
Hart can be better, though he has made several timely saves that either allowed the Knights to keep a lead or prevented Carolina from extending its advantage.
It would be nice to hear how Hart feels about what has transpired, but he hasn’t been made available for interviews. He hasn’t addressed the media during the series, even when several requests were made to speak with him solely about his pregame routine.
This shouldn’t be a backup quarterback argument for Hill. Carter Hart was playing at a Conn Smythe level before the Cup Final. He isn’t now, but Hill hasn’t played in those two months and wasn’t good at all this season when not hurt.
“Any time you get injured, it’s not great, but this is the most time I’ve missed with one injury,” Hill said at the Stanley Cup Final media day. “It was a long recovery. I feel good now, and we are where we are as a team. Hoping we can finish strong.
“Obviously, as an athlete, you want to be playing.”
Been there, done that
But here’s the significant part of the debate: Hill has been in this playoff position before and more than responded.
It occurred most recently in 2024, when he replaced Logan Thompson in Game 5 against Dallas. Hill in that instance played well despite going 1-2, allowing just five goals in three starts in a series the Stars won in seven games.
It was also Hill who entered the 2023 playoffs in Game 3 against Edmonton when Laurent Brossoit went down with injury in the second round. The rest is history as the Knights won their Stanley Cup with Hill in net.
He knows of this moment.
Has been there, done that, won it all.
Consider the words of Tortorella before the Western Conference Final against Colorado:
“It’s a matter of trust. We have a guy in Carter who has played very well, but (Hill) is a Stanley Cup winner. We have trust in him. We haven’t gone there because we feel Carter has played that well so you stay with him. It’s not like you’re trying to fix something that isn’t broken. And still teams and coaches are not afraid to make (the switch).”
Fact: His trust has been in Hart since taking the job with eight regular-season games remaining.
If he follows suit, which is the favored side, Tortorella has his guy.
Which means those in front of him need to hold up their end of the bargain.
But this is a place Adin Hill knows best and the Knights need a shot in the arm. He’s the man to give it.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
