Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill made a spectacular save early in the second period of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals and this save could be seen as a turning point in the series.
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After 50 seconds of action in the second period, Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins deflected Brandon Montour’s pass, but Cousins was frustrated when the Knights goalie stopped the puck with his racquet.
“It might be one of the most important saves of my career considering I made that save in the Stanley Cup Finals. But I feel like I made other great saves,” Adin Hill said, laughing as his comments were shared on NHL.com.
This feat allowed the Nevada team, among other things, to win the first game of the Stanley Cup Finals series by a score of 5 to 2.
Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy couldn’t believe his goalie’s little miracle.
“It’s an unreal interruption, isn’t it? […] Sometimes you need those stops at crucial moments. However, we didn’t play our best game in front of him, I’m the first to admit that. Sometimes No. 1 games go like that,” Bruce Cassidy said after the press conference, the words of which were quoted by NHL.com.
Déjà-vu
The former Washington Capitals goalie made such a save in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Holtby had stretched his cane to thwart Alex Tuch from a specific goal.
Jonathan Marchessault, who was in the grand final in 2018, still remembers this moment well.
“It was exactly the same. It was a turning point in 2018, and tonight was another,” said the Quebec forward, whose words were taken from NHL.com.
The rhythm of the Golden Knights side?
Hill’s parade could undoubtedly be a highlight of this series if Vegas wins the coveted trophy.
Vice City team captain Mark Stone said this moment was a big win for the Golden Knights players.
“It’s definitely a trigger. It gave energy to the bank. We might not have played particularly well at the start of the second period, but that break allowed us to turn the tide and revive ourselves in that third,” said Mark Stone.