Adin Hill isn't known for his glove. Instead, the Vegas Golden Knights netminder has been known as a steady force in the net, keeping his team in countless games. Entering Sunday's game against the New Jersey Devils, he had a GAA of 2.59 and a save percentage of .903.
Sure, those numbers aren't winning you a Vezina Trophy any time soon. But the Golden Knights don't need him to. They only need the Calgary native to win them a Stanley Cup. It's happened before in 2023, where the netminder helped Vegas win their first championship in franchise history. It wouldn't be farfetched to think he does it again.
That's especially true after another stellar performance on Sunday, where he stopped all 25 shots. Combined with a stellar special teams play that saw two power play goals, the goaltender posted his third shutout of the season by beating the Devils, 2-0. On top of that, he defeated a returning Jacob Markstrom (2.20 GAA, .912 save percentage entering Sunday), who's been excellent for New Jersey this season.
But that raises a noticeable idea about the netminder and how important he is. While Bruce Cassidy's shot blocking and forechecking system does wonders, Vegas needs him to win another Stanley Cup this season. It's not just because he's a steady force that can steal a hockey game. It's also because the alternative is much worse.
Ilya Samsonov isn't winning you a playoff series as opposed to Adin Hill
Last season, Adin Hill almost stole the first round series against the Dallas Stars. He had a GAA of 1.70 and a save percentage of .931 in that series. Don't let the 1-2 record fool you, either. That series was lost by an underwhelming offensive attack that couldn't squeeze past the neutral zone.
The season prior, he was also solid, posting a GAA of 2.17 and a save percentage of .932. He had two shutouts in 14 games started, helping the Vegas Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Compare that to Ilya Samsonov, who was an absolute abomination last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had a GAA of 3.01 and a save percentage of .896 in five games started. In fact, he was a major reason why the Maple Leafs lost in the first round to the Boston Bruins. Once Toronto switched to Joseph Woll, they had a fighter's chance.
A statistical look at the differences between both goaltenders
When you beat an offensively skilled team like the New Jersey Devils, you deserve some praise across the league. All night, the Devils tested Hill in all matters, ranging from his glove side to down low. He stood strong, tracking every puck and keeping up with each play.
That's what Golden Knights fans prefer to see compared to Samsonov, who's allowed 10 goals in his last two games started. In fact, February was mediocre for the Russian netminder, where he posted a GAA of 3.79 and a save percentage of .810. Overall, the stats tell a sharp contrast between both goaltenders (stats are entering Sunday's game against the Devils).
Goaltender | GAA | Save percentage | Goals saved above expected | Save % above expected | xGAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adin Hill | 2.59 | .903 | 10.5 | .0051 | 2.90 |
Ilya Samsonov | 2.91 | .887 | -2.5 | -.0018 | 2.81 |
That last stat is particularly telling because it shows how the Calgary native has gone above and beyond in 2024-25. He's done everything he can to win games for Vegas by himself. That has happened on a few instances, with December 3 agaisnt the Edmonton Oilers and Sunday's game against the Devils being shining examples.
Some people might not like seeing Hill in net instead of Logan Thompson. That's fair to say. However, the 28-year-old is much better than the alternative, which would lead to an immediate first-round exit. That's something fans would prefer not to see, especially with the team primed for another Stanley Cup run.