Should Golden Knights turn to Stanley Cup champion Adin Hill amid Carter Hart struggles?

The Vegas Golden Knights lost 4-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. Now, they head back home for Game 6 with their backs against the wall for the first time this postseason. The Golden Knights have used Carter Hart in goal for every postseason game, but is it now time to change to Adin Hill?

Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella was asked if he considered using Hill in the third period of Game 4. Hart had allowed three goals in the first two periods, and Vegas was down a pair of goals. Tortorella, who only coached eight regular-season games for the Golden Knights, called it “Christ, that could be the stupidest question I’ve heard.”

That certainly points toward Hart starting Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night. Considering he has gotten them this far, it is a defensible position. But Hill was the one in the net when the Knights lifted the Stanley Cup back in 2023, so he has the experience.

This season was not ideal for Hill, posting an .870 save percentage and a 3.04 goals-against average in 27 games. The Golden Knights brought Hart in because of Hill’s struggles, and it worked to perfection. To get this far and make a goalie change would go against everything Tortorella has done as the coach.

Could Hurricanes’ move inform Golden Knights goalie choice?

The Hurricanes did make a goalie change, turning to Brandon Bussi down 2-1 after Game 3. They have won both games with the 27-year-old first-year goalie in net, and they are now one win from a championship. But Bussi was fantastic in the regular season and proved to be a great second fiddle to Frederik Andersen. Hill never proved that this year.

The Golden Knights need to stick with Hart for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Not only is he the one who got them here, but he was integral to two wins in this series. Even though he is the first goalie to allow four goals in the first five games of a Cup Final, he still did enough to secure two wins.

Had Hill played earlier in the postseason or been better in the regular season, this would be a different conversation. But throwing a cold goalie in the net in the biggest game of the year cannot be the answer. Tortorella did not check out of his Raleigh hotel room. He’s confident in his squad and should show that by sticking with Hart.

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