Goaltenders: B
Part of why the goaltending group is getting a B is because of the start of the season. Adin Hill struggled mightily in October, posting a GAA of 3.20 and a save percentage of .878. However, he turned his fortunes around in December with a GAA of 2.26 and a save percentage of .919. Ilya Samsonov has also been decent as a backup with a GAA of 2.65 and a save percentage of .907.
But their stellar stats stem beyond stopping shots. Advanced analytics show Hill and Samsonov have been better than expected for the Golden Knights. In fact, the duo has stolen some games for Vegas, getting them to the top of the league (minimum 15 games).
Goaltender | Goals Saved Above Expected | Save Percentage On Unblocked Shots | GAA Better Than Expected | Wins Above Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Adin Hill | 8.4 | .957 | 0.33 | 1.40 |
Ilya Samsonov | 6.0 | .957 | 0.40 | 1.00 |
The impact of both netminders can't be underestimated. When facing teams such as the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, you need your goaltenders to stand firm and keep you in the game. That's what Hill and Samsonov have done, acting as the proverbial brick wall when needed.