Hill makes 1st playoff start since Cup-clinching win

The Vegas Golden Knights turned to Adin Hill for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.

He made 22 saves on 25 shots during the defending champs' 3-2 defeat.

Hill hadn't played since the regular-season finale on April 18, when he gave up three goals in a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.

Last spring, he took over the Vegas crease midway through the championship run and ultimately went 11-4 with a .932 save percentage across 16 games en route to lifting the Stanley Cup.

Cassidy on the decision to start Adin Hill in Game 5 pic.twitter.com/0UgpFGChsC

- Case Keefer (@casekeefer) May 1, 2024

Logan Thompson started the first four games of the series, authoring a .921 save percentage. Vegas lost the last two contests after taking a 2-0 series lead, but Thompson can hardly be blamed for the defeats. He made 43 saves during a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 3 and then turned aside all but three of the 31 shots he faced in Game 4.

The Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 of the final to secure the trophy last June. Hill made 32 saves in the win.

The Stars hold a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is scheduled for Friday in Vegas.

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