Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) warms up before an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks at T-Mobile Arena Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 | 1:03 p.m.
Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill is being labeled as day-to-day after his return to the lineup Sunday ended in just six minutes of game action.
Hill, who missed the past three weeks with a lower-body injury, appeared to aggravate the injury in the first period of the Golden Knights’ 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. Hill went to make a save on power-play goal by Ottawa’s Josh Norris but couldn’t get to the ice to make the save.
Logan Thompson made 20 saves in relief and will start for the seventh time in nine games tonight when Vegas takes on the Carolina Hurricanes (4 p.m., Vegas 34) to begin a three-game road trip. Jiri Patera, who was recalled from AHL Henderson on Monday, will be the backup.
“(Hill) was getting re-evaluated when we left yesterday. I have not heard any news,” coach Bruce Cassidy said following morning skate at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. “I don’t anticipate he’ll join us on this trip, but if he did, that’d be great. That’d mean he’d be close to playing. That’s where we are right now.”
Losing Hill for another bit of time isn’t a major blow for the Golden Knights, who enter Tuesday atop the league standings with 47 points. They’re third in points percentage behind the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, who have played three fewer games than Vegas (32).
Thompson has gone 5-1-1 in his seven appearances since Hill went down but has been on the ledger for 10 goals allowed in his last three games, after giving up seven in his previous four starts.
The Golden Knights played a better defensive game Sunday after allowing at least four goals in each of their last three games. Ottawa’s lone 5-on-5 goal came with three minutes remaining in a game in which Vegas had control.
It’s expected that Thompson will get all three starts on this road trip, barring a sudden return from Hill. That includes stops in Tampa against the Lightning on Thursday and a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Kolesar out, lines changing
Cassidy also confirmed that forward Keegan Kolesar is out due to an undisclosed injury, and all lines but the top line will see some changes.
Pavel Dorofeyev will draw back into the lineup on the second line with Chandler Stephenson and Jonathan Marchessault. Brett Howden, usually occupying that spot, will center the fourth line with William Carrier and Michael Amadio.
Usual fourth-line center Nic Roy will move up to the third line with William Karlsson and Paul Cotter.
“Karly and Paul are two really good players that make plays,” Roy said. “I haven’t played a whole lot with them this year, so (I’m) excited for the challenge.”
No changes are expected at defense from Sunday. The Golden Knights placed Kaedan Korczak on injured reserve Monday due to a lower-body injury.
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
