The Vegas Golden Knights' goalie Adin Hill returned to the ice after a significant absence due to injury, starting against the New York Islanders. Hill, who last played on December 17th and has missed 15 straight games, was activated off injured reserve and led the Golden Knights onto the ice for warmups. His last full game was on November 27th. In the game, Pavel Dorofeyev scored early, giving Vegas a 1-0 lead with a shot that beat Islanders' goalie Vanecek to the blocker side, following a play by Chandler Stephenson. Later, Stephenson himself scored, deflecting a pass from Mark Stone to give Vegas a 4-3 lead. The projected goalie matchup for the game was Ilya Sorokin against Adin Hill. The Golden Knights are coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils the previous night and were looking to bounce back in this matchup. Barbashev also contributed by scoring the first goal for the Knights.
Hill with some big stops as the Isles press to get back in it. Fasching looked like he may have scored but there was never a call from Toronto to halt play.
Adin Hill looks pretty good for a guy who has played about six minutes in the previous 23 games. The VGK goalie is quick, making saves low, moving his lower body well.
Adin Hill stops a flurry of chances from #Isles top line.
Sorokin with the big stop on Barbashev in front to keep it tied 1-1.
Second period underway, Knights with the 1-0 lead.
End of 1: Golden Knights 1, Islanders 0 Hill made it through the first, Vegas opened the scoring, and played well as the period went on. Mission accomplished.
End of the first, 1-0 Vegas. Exactly what you were hoping to see from Vegas in response to last night’s game. Adin Hill looked sharp, but most of all, comfortable in the first.
Strong start for #Isles, but they let #Knights score first and then they struggled to regain momentum for the remainder of the period. 1-0 VGK. Shots are 9-7. Need more traffic on Hill.
Knights 1, Isles 0 after 20 minutes. Nine saves for Adin Hill. Though he looked good. The guys in front of him played considerably better as well.
End of one Vegas 1 (Barbashev) #Isles 0 Not a bad start for Isles. Just no (scoring) finish. Isles up on shots 9-7
Knights have taken control since their goal. Just dominated o-zone. Hit the post. Structure took a step back after a strong start to period. #Isles
A Pelech giveaway leads to Pietrangelo firing on goal and Barbashev tipping it past Sorokin to give the Knights a 1-0 lead 11:50 in.
Little spray and pray magic from VGK to get on the board first. Poor clearance by the Islanders directly to Pietrangelo, he throws it on net and Barbashev stays hot. 1-0 VGK
Barbashev with a beautiful tip as #Knights take a 1-0 lead with 8:08 to play in the first. Aho and Pelech with turnovers before the goal.
Barbashev tips Pietrangelo's shot and it's 1-0 Vegas at 11:52 of the first
Hill saved by the post on MacLean's shot from he slot. Still 0-0 midway through the first. The Isles continue to play physical and are controlling play in the Vegas end.
Golden Knights and Islanders are underway The long-awaited return of the NHL’s save percentage leader, Adin Hill!
Adin Hill's first game since Dec. 17, so #Isles may want to throw pucks at the net as often as possible. And crash the net.
Adin Hill goes tonight for Vegas. He played 6:25 on 12/17/23 against the Senators. His last full game was 11/27/23 against the Calgary Flames. https://t.co/h9yKlSsRO9
Adin Hill has been activated off IR and led VGK onto the ice against the Islanders.
Adin Hill leads the Golden Knights out for warmups.
⛰️ Adin Hill has been activated off IR and will return to the lineup tonight!!! #VegasBorn | @naqviinjurylaw https://t.co/vh7JkSSQjg
Adin Hill leads the @GoldenKnights out for warmups. Ilya Sorokin does likewise for the Islanders.
Adin Hill is back for the Golden Knights tonight. He hasn't played since Dec. 17, when he barely played before leaving with a lower-body injury. He has missed 15 straight games and 22 of the past 23.
#Isles Ilya Sorokin (14-11-9, 3.17 GAA, .910 save pct.) and Vegas' Adin Hill (10-2-2, 1.93, .933) lead the teams onto the ice for warmups here at UBS Arena Vegas on second night of back to back, lost 6-5 OT in NJ. First game for Hill since Dec. 17 Vegas took LIRR from NYC to UBS
According to the NHL's media site, Adin Hill is no longer listed as being on IR. He is expected to play for the first time since Dec. 17. We'll find out momentarily as we're minutes away from warmups.
Adin Hill has been removed from IR and is on track to make his return to the lineup tonight on Long Island.
Patrick Roy and #Isles battle #VegasBorn tonight at 7:30 PM ET. Ilya Sorokin vs. Adin Hill is the projected goalie matchup. Roy making just one change to lineup after 3-2 OT win on Sunday. @matthewpage24 https://t.co/fLdFoyQmZc
Patrick Roy and #Isles battle #VegasBorn tonight at 7:30 PM ET. Ilya Sorokin vs. Adin Hill is the projected goalie matchup. Roy making just one change to lineup after 3-2 OT on Sunday. @matthewpage24 https://t.co/fLdFoyQmZc
#Isles will hold a morning skate ahead of 7:30 battle with #VegasBorn. The expectation is that Adin Hill starts with Logan Thompson going tonight vs. #NJDevils. Hill hasn’t played since 12/17 due to injury. Semyon Varlamov off IR today, so we will see what Roy’s plans are.
Chandler Stephenson gives Vegas a 4-3 lead by deflecting Stone’s perfectly-placed saucer pass in front. What a run here for the Golden Knights.
And now even more fortunate as Mark Stone finds some open ice at 4-on-4 and flips one in front to Stephenson to poke it home. 4-3 VGK and they have completely flipped the script here. https://t.co/Iwylygh5T1
Stone to the net and Stephenson is there for the redirect and the Knights retake the lead, 4-3. Lindy decides to call his timeout.
Dorofeyev with the nice setup by Stephenson and he beats Vanecek to give the Knights the early 1-0 lead. Stone with the secondary helper.
Pavel Dorofeyev continues his hot streak with a snipe to beat Vanecek clean to the blocker side. Nice play by Stephenson through the neutral zone and on the entry.
Terrific little move by Stephenson to open up the ice for Dorofeyev. Pavel with a bullet too. VGK up 1-0 early.
Pavel Dorofeyev. 1-0 Vegas. This kid is making a strong case to stay with Stephenson and Stone for the rest of the year. What a shot.
The plan is for Logan Thompson to start tonight and Saville will back him up. Bruce Cassidy says they plan to play Adin Hill against the Islanders if things go well #VegasBorn