Adin Hill delivers masterclass on Goaltending in 4-3 win on Devils

On any other night, the statistical milestones would be the major headline, but the performance of Adin Hill, who is coming off a big win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Adin Hill, who was now in net with the final Golden Knight trade acquisition, Jonathan Quick, watching on from the bench. In total, Hill got 46 saves, which is now a career high. Hill posted career numbers and he did it with a 4-3 shootout win over the Devils.

The Devils came to Vegas as an equally red hot hockey team and this set the stage for two of the league’s best teams standing toe to toe with one another. On the statistical side of things, Jonathan Marchessault was one point away from getting his 400th career NHL point. As for the game itself, not only did Marchessault get his 400th point, he did it by scoring two goals on the night.

Devils showcase speed into a pair of goals

The newly acquired Teddy Blueger took the opening faceoff for the Golden Knights and he won the draw against Nico Hischier.  A breakaway from Hischier opened some eyes getting a backhanded shot off but Adin Hill was there to stop it with 17:03 left in the opening period. The Devils managed to get off six shots in the first eight minutes as the Golden Knights got their first shot with 14:39 left.

With 12:11 left, off a clutch pass from Brayden McNabb, Jonathan Marchessault scored his 18th goal of the season giving the Golden Knights an early 1-0 lead. It was Marchessault’s 400th career NHL point. Jack Hughes went on another breakaway and nearly got one past Hill, who was able to make a big stop with 9:18 left. Marchessault got another great look on Akira Schmid with 7:01 left but Schmid was able to make the save.

With 5:19 left, Brett Howden was called for interference against Michael McLeod giving the Devils the first power play of the game. On the power play, with 4:44 left, Jesper Bratt scored his 25th goal of the season to even the score at 1-1 a piece. Devils outshooting the Golden Knights 10-4 with 3:00 minutes left in the period. Late in the period, William Carrier was seen hobbling down towards the locker room. Dawson Mercer took a giveaway from McNabb with 30 seconds left and then turned into a goal to give the Devils a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

Devils 2, Golden Knights 1 – 1st Intermission

The Breakdown…

The Golden Knights cannot afford to make mistakes because the Devils will make you pay. The Devils outshot the Golden Knights by a 16-4 margin. For the most part, the Golden Knights are extremely lucky not to be down by four goals heading into the intermission. Getting raced around the ice does not help matters for the Golden Knights. Adjustments are key in the second.

Marchessault gets the game even

William Carrier did not come back out for the start of the second period. With 14:51 left, the Golden Knights got off their first shot of the period but Schmid was there to stop it. Chandler Stephenson, Marchessault and Eichel fired off some clutch shots shortly after but Schmid was able to make sone massive saves. For the first 10 minutes of the second period, the Golden Knights did a fantastic job controlling the puck and creating chances. Seven shots were fired off in the first 10 minutes by Vegas.

With 7:09 left in the second period Marchessault got a wrist shot off passes from Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev and launched it past Schmid for his second goal of the night, giving him his 19th of the season. Mercer nearly tied it two minutes later with a spectacular shot against Hill but Hill got his 20th save of the game with the stop.

Dougie Hamilton got called for slashing on Theodore giving the Golden Knights a power play. On the power play, the Vegas attack was hot and heavy. Despite no goal being scored, it was perhaps the best the Golden Knights have looked on the power play in two months. As the period came to a close Hill would make some theatrics of his own by making a big save against Bratt to keep the game even.

Golden Knights 2, Devils 2 – 2nd Intermission

The Breakdown..

Overall, the second period was a solid adjustment made by the Golden Knights. Controlling the puck was the key early and it kept the Devils for regaining any momentum. As a result, the creating opportunities gets you a chance to make a play towards the net. Marchessault was red hot in the second and Hill is keeping the Golden Knights in the game.

Devils extend the game with late goal

The third started with plenty of chances by both teams. Theodore and Blueger got the offense going with a pair of shots. With 16;12 left to go in regulation, Eichel would get his 23rd goal of the season with an assist off the stick of Marchessault to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead. The Devils would not get a shot off until the five minute mark in the period.

The Devils got off four frenzy shots within seconds with 10:55 left to go and Adin Hill was there to save the day with plenty of back up by his Golden Knight teammates. A minute later, Michael Amadio was called for high sticking on Hischier, giving the Devils a power play for the second time in the game. During the Devils power play, William Karlssson was awarded a shorthanded penalty shot after a slash by Ondej Palat, which would be saved by Schmid.

A goal by Miles Wood with 8:08 left tied the game at three a piece. A couple minutes later Alec Martinez got a shot that hit the crossbar and then Palat and Theodore would trade shots for both teams. The game would eventually get to the overtime period with the game tied at three.

Devils 3, Golden Knights 3 – End of Regulation

Adin Hill saves the day

Hischier got off an amazing shot 45 seconds in but Hill was there to save the day. The Devils got off nine shots on Hill and the overtime period ended with Hill saving every single shot.

Shootout Results

Rd 1 > Tatar – MISSED | Marchessault – MISSED
Rd 2 > Hamilton – MISSED | Eichel – MISSED
Rd 3 > Mercer – MISSED | Smith – MISSED
Rd 4 > Bratt – MISSED | Theodore – GOAL

Golden Knights 4, Devils 3 – Final/Shootout

Game Notes

• The win puts the Golden Knights record at 37-19-6 (80 pts). They are the first Western Conference team to reach the 80 point mark.
• Adin Hill saved 46 of 49 shots including four more in the shootout for a combined total of 50 saves. The 46 saves against the Devils is a career high for Hill.
• The Golden Knights are two points in front of the Los Angeles Kings in the Division with the Seattle Kraken sitting in third with 76 points. Edmonton also has 76 points.
• The next game for the Golden Knights Montreal Canadiens is Sunday afternoon at 6:00p ET/3:00p PT and it is the final home game before they go on the road for five straight.
• If the season ended after the night’s action, the Golden Knights would draw the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, while the Dallas Stars would get the Edmonton Oilers.