Hill sparks Golden Knights to Stanley Cup after emerging as starter

LAS VEGAS --Adin Hill is rarely speechless. He usually has something to say and remains calm throughout interviews.

But in the moments after helping the Vegas Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup clinching victory with a 9-3 win in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, Hill found himself struggling to find words to describe how he was feeling.

"I try to keep my cool, but it's hard right now," Hill said. "It's pretty surreal. The crowd here and the support for the building tonight is insane and unbelievable."

Hill entered the playoffs when Laurent Brossoit went down with a lower-body injury in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Edmonton Oilers. After having not played since March 7 of the regular season, he took the job and ran with it.

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He went 11-4 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2.17 goals-against average and .932 save percentage, including two shutouts against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final.

In the Stanley Cup Final, Hill elevated his game. He allowed 12 goals, making 143 saves (.923 save percentage), including a sprawling paddle save on a Nick Cousins chance in Game 1.

"The way he came in is a little storybook ending, right?" Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I mean, he comes in the middle of the playoffs. Hasn't played in a while. You don't know what you're going to get. … We found a way to be good in front of him, but he found a way to be really good to help us move on."

Selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the third round (No. 76) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Hill played four seasons with them before he was traded with a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks for goalie Josef Korenar and a second-round pick in the 2022 draft.

He found himself on the move again on Aug. 29, 2022, when he was traded to Vegas for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft with the Golden Knights in need of a goaltender after Robin Lehner was ruled out for the season due to double hip surgery.

Hill started the season as the backup to Logan Thompson and went 16-7-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage in 27 games (25 starts), setting career highs in games, wins and GAA.

"I knew this team had aspirations of doing this (winning a Stanley Cup) this year," Hill said. "It's a team that's built for it and all year long, we've proved that. Now here we are today."

Although Hill was never a starter until injuries to others created an opportunity, he said he believed in himself enough that once the moment came, he would shine.

"I've always had confidence in my game and myself," he said. "From a young age, I've always felt like I could do this. So, it's just all the hours you put in growing up, the dedication, and it pays off right."

Hill, 27, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, isn't thinking about it now. He did say he enjoys being in Vegas and will handle contract negotiations when the time comes.

"It's an awesome city," he said. "Great fan base. It has been unbelievable here."