The Vegas Golden Knights are facing a difficult decision ahead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the debate over who should start in goal has become one of the biggest storylines of the series.
Trailing the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2, Vegas has seen increased scrutiny surrounding starting goaltender Carter Hart. While Hart played a key role in helping the Golden Knights reach the Final, he has struggled against Carolina, leading some analysts to wonder whether a change in net could help extend the series.
Former GM Suggests Golden Knights Turn to Adin Hill
Goaltending has been a major concern for Vegas throughout the Final. Hart has allowed four or more goals in each of the first five games, posting an .856 save percentage and a 3.70 goals-against average during the series.
Those numbers have fueled calls for Adin Hill to get an opportunity.
Hill, who helped backstop Vegas to the Stanley Cup in 2023, has endured a difficult season of his own. A significant lower-body injury suffered in October 2025 sidelined him for nearly three months. Although he returned from Long-Term Injured Reserve in January, he struggled to regain the form that once made him one of the league’s most reliable playoff goaltenders.
During a recent discussion about the possibility of making a switch, former NHL general manager Doug MacLean said the decision would heavily depend on feedback from the team’s goaltending coach.
“You would have to heavily involve your goalie coach in that one. Because he’s the guy that’s been working with him since they had to get him out of the net late in the season,” MacLean said. “This is a Stanley Cup-winning goaltender… It’s certainly not out of the question that it’s got to be considered.”
MacLean also pointed to the heavy workload Hart has carried after returning to regular action, noting that playing such a demanding stretch of games can take a toll on any goalie. “We’ve got goalies that can’t play a back-to-back. I mean, come on, are you kidding? I can’t play a back-to-back. What do you mean?” MacLean added.
Despite outside calls for a switch, the likelihood of Hill starting Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena appears slim.
Following Vegas’ 4-2 loss in Game 5, head coach John Tortorella was asked whether he had considered turning to Hill in an effort to spark the team. Tortorella quickly dismissed the idea.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, that could be the stupidest question I’ve heard,” he replied.
The veteran coach has consistently defended Hart throughout the series, pointing instead to the team’s defensive breakdowns and penalty-kill struggles. Tortorella believes the issues run deeper than goaltending, with Carolina repeatedly generating dangerous scoring chances off the rush.
If the Golden Knights hope to force a Game 7, they’ll need a much stronger defensive effort in front of whoever starts in net and find a way to slow down a Hurricanes team that sits one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup.
