Recap: Hill Blanks Predators, Earns First NHL Shutout

NASHVILLE -Making his first start of the season, and just his fifth in the NHL overall, Coyotes goalie Adin Hill delivered a 29-save shutout, his first in the League, to key a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.
At 22 years and 202 days old, Hill is the fourth-youngest goaltender in franchise history to record his first NHL shutout, and the youngest to do so since the club relocated from Winnipeg to Arizona in 1996-97.

"It was exciting finding out I was starting here in Nashville," Hill said. "It's an electric crowd here, a great hockey city. The team had a wonderful game. It was awesome, we all dedicated ourselves to the game. The d-men did a good job boxing guys out and clearing pucks when they had to and the penalty kill did an outstanding job. It was an exciting game, an exciting win ... I was a little bit nervous, but at the same time, once you step on the ice all that just goes away and you're playing the game you love."

Hill, whom the Coyotes recalled from the American Hockey League just last weekend, was in the net because both starter Antti Raanta and backup Darcy Kuemper are considered day-to-day with lower-body injuries.
"We played exactly how we wanted to, we stuck to our structure and got pucks deep when we had to," Hill said. "We didn't turn the puck over and really just played a phenomenal game. Our breakouts were smooth and the guys were communicating a lot out there and that helps everyone out, including myself."

Leading 1-0, Hill made perhaps his most memorable save of the game early in the second period when he thwarted a short-handed breakaway by Colton Sissons.
"It was really nice to see him go in there and play in a tough building and (against) one of the best teams in the League," Head Coach Rick Tocchet said. "He did a nice job."
Newcomer Nick Schmaltz, who notched a goal and an assist, also admired how Hill performed.
"I thought he was our best player out there for most of the night," Schmaltz said. "In the first period, (Roman) Josi had a chance backdoor and he slid over and robbed him, and you need those saves just to keep the momentum on your side and allow us to get back in the game. He killed their momentum all night. Hats off to him getting that first shutout. It's quite an accomplishment."
Hill was the fifth of 24 goalies selected at the 2015 NHL Draft, by the Coyotes with the 76th overall pick. None of the four goalies taken before him has yet to play an NHL game.
• Schmaltz, Clayton Keller and Brad Richardson scored goals for the Coyotes, who ended a seven-game losing streak at Bridgestone Arena that dated to March 28, 2013.
"For most of the game I thought we did a nice job of puck management," Tocchet said. "We executed the game plan. Against Nashville you've got to play a certain way because they've got some weapons ... I thought we had some good support all over the ice."

• Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson skated 24:14 and notched the 199th assist of his career in his 600th NHL game.

"It's a lot games, and I've been fortunate enough to be with the same team and do it, so that means a lot," Ekman-Larsson said. "Every chance you get to step on the ice in the NHL, it's a big honor and privilege."

• Schmaltz, playing his second game with Arizona since coming to the team via a trade with Chicago on Sunday, notched his first point with the Coyotes when he assisted on Keller's goal at 1:40 of the second period. He tallied his first goal on a power play at 19:39 of the middle stanza.
Schmaltz played center as a member of the Coyotes for the first time on a line with Keller and Alex Galchenyuk as wingers.
"We came out flying, got two good looks and we just stuck with it throughout the game and didn't get frustrated," Schmaltz said. "We knew it was going to come at some point, and we just kept working and got rewarded. Those are two guys who see the game at a similar level, and we like to make plays and find each other and support each other. I think that chemistry is going to keep getting better and growing each and every night."

• Richardson scored his goal from alone in the slot at 11:23 of the third period. Vinnie Hinostroza set it up with a nice pass that Richardson one-timed past Pekka Rinne, the NHL's top goalie in multiple statistical categories.
• Jordan Oesterle left the game for some time after absorbing a hard check from Nashville's Filip Forsberg early in the third period. He returned later in the period and played two more shifts.
• Arizona, which leads the NHL in penalty-killing percentage (89.5), killed both of Nashville's power plays.
• Stats that jump off the Event Summary: Richardson won 14 of 19 face-offs, Niklas Hjalmarsson blocked four shots, and Lawson Crouse delivered three hits.