Hill 'gutsy' in relief for Golden Knights in Game 3 win

EDMONTON -- Adin Hill was ready when needed for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round at Rogers Place on Monday.

The call came for the backup goalie at 11:44 of the first period after starter Laurent Brossoit sustained a lower-body injury stretching out attempting to stop a rebound after making a right pad save on Oilers center Connor McDavid.

Hill stopped all 24 shots he faced in a 5-1 win for the Golden Knights, who took a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is here Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS).

"I just tried to be patient and stay on my feet as long as I can was the biggest thing I tried to focus on," Hill said. "Just tracking the puck and being patient, and I feel when I do that I'm at the top of my game. But our guys tonight, they played an unbelievable game keeping guys to the outside, they boxed out guys in front of me and made my night really easy."

Hill entered with the game tied 1-1, and with only 20 minutes and four shots of Stanley Cup Playoff experience.

"I saw it earlier this year when it happened to [Logan Thompson] and it [stinks] to see your teammate go down like that," Hill said. "'L.B.' is a great guy and a great goalie, and it's tough to see that, but you kind of have to flip a switch and we have a hockey game to play."

Hill got his first taste of NHL postseason hockey in Vegas' 5-1 loss in Game 2 in relief of Brossoit in the third period with the Oilers up 5-0, and stopped all four shots he faced. That was the extent of his playoff experience before Monday.

"You look back and I think, fortunately for him, he got into the third period the other night and he got a taste of the temperature of playoff hockey," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "It wasn't the best circumstances, but it probably helped him a little tonight. As for our team, we've been through a lot with goaltenders all year. I think we'll try to keep playing the same way no matter who's in there and I think that's what we did tonight."

The Golden Knights had Thompson (37 games), Hill (27), Brossoit (11), Jonathan Quick (10) and Jiri Patera (2) play at least one game in net during the regular season. Video: Brossoit exits Game 3 with injury missed the entire season following hip surgery last summer.

"Gutsy performance by 'Hillsy,' that's not an easy thing to do," Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel said. "I've never done it, so I can't really say how it is, but I'm sure it's tough. It's tough to see our starting goalie go down and be in the type of pain he was in; you don't want to see anyone go through that. We know what L.B. has been through in terms of rehabbing and getting back to great playing form, so it's tough to see him get injured there. But ton of credit to Hillsy coming in mid-game. I know he hasn't played a lot lately, but I thought he did a great job."

RELATED: [Video: Brossoit exits Game 3 with injury]

Hill, 26, was 16-7-1 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .915 save percentage during the regular season. His last start before being sidelined because of a lower-body injury was a 2-1 loss at the Florida Panthers on March 7.

"I got hurt a little while ago and didn't have much game action other than a couple of periods in Henderson (American Hockey League)," Hill said. "So, it was good to get into that third period the other day to get a feel for the game and get up to game speed, because you can't really simulate that in practice, so that definitely helped."

Brossoit stopped three of four shots before being helped off the ice, unable to put any weight on his left leg. He is 5-2 with a 3.13 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in the playoffs.

Brossoit missed the first four months of the season while recovering from offseason hip surgery. Cassidy said he did not have an update on his status.

"It was tough to see him go off the ice like that, but your focus has to go right back to playing," Cassidy said. "Guys certainly went in and checked on him after the period and after the game and we'll see how he does. I don't have anything on him yet; we'll get you something as soon as we can. Jonathan Quick is here and he's been good for us. If L.B. is not available, it will be Hill and 'Quicky.'"