Like last year, the Vegas Golden Knights are unlucky with their goalies. With Logan Thompson and Adin Hill on the sidelines, the defending Stanley Cup champions will have to turn to much lesser-known prospects.
We must not think that the formation of the City of Vice will end up in an unpleasant situation. Five goaltenders were between the posts between 2022 and 2023, including Laurent Brossoit and Hill, who shined after being recalled from the American Hockey League (AHL). The sophomore was also the man of confidence in most of the playoffs.
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Except Hill (with a record of 10-2-2, a 1.93 goals per game average and a .933 save percentage) reinjured his lower body on Sunday against the Senators. Ottawa, while Thompson (10-5-3 record, 2.71 GAA and .905 save percentage) left Wednesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes in the third period.
Both men are among the best in their fields this year, so their loss could hurt. However, the Knights can count on young Jiri Patera. The 24-year-old Czech can collect points in the absence of the two regulars.
The No. 1 Henderson Silver Knights are still undefeated in the National Hockey League after three starts. The big club will trust him to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning again on Thursday evening. His replacement will be Isaiah Saville, a goaltender who has won all three of his AHL duels this year.
“We have some inexperienced goalies in net and we need to play well in front of them,” head coach Bruce Cassidy told the media earlier in the day. Each team is tested at different times of the year. This is what is happening to us now.”
For their part, the Lightning should send Andrei Vasilevskiy in front of the net.