‘Gone nuclear’: Vegas goalie Adin Hill: NHL’s biggest faker? Or master of gamesmanship?

A tsunami of attention has come to Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill after Monday night’s 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

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You might think the eyes of the hockey world would be Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, who got the shut-out after struggling mightily in his first three starts for the Oilers in the 2025 playoffs. It was one helluva redemption story.

But no.

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Hill has captured attention with his sneaky and violent antics during the game. The game saw him repeatedly hack and elbow Oilers forward Zach Hyman, explode with rage after his own player pushed Evander Kane over top of him, and trick the referees into handing Oilers forward Mattias Janmark a tripping penalty when it was Hill who set himself up to be tripped by sticking out his leg into Janmark’s path.

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In the first period, as Vegas got down 2-0, Hill went after Hyman on three separate occasions, bashing him to the ice with his blocker, viciously slashing him after Hyman had rushed in to shoot, and again attacking Hyman after Adam Henrique’s second goal.

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There was again a penalty after Hill went berserk after Henrique’s second goal, but not on the combustible Hill.

Just after Henrique made a brilliant between-the-legs, deke-and-shoot to score, Evander Kane was pushed hard on top of Hill by VGK d-man Shea Theadore.

Kane quickly got up and skated away, ready to fight. Hill exploded off the ice looking to bash any Oilers within bashing shot and landed a blow on Hyman.

But it was Kane who got the penalty here, not Theadore and not Hill.

“I don’t understand in that one Kane play how Vegas got the power play out of it,” said Hockey Night in Canada commentator Elliotte Friedman. “I still  don’t get that one. Kane got knocked into him by McNab and then Hill went after Hyman. I understand we’re trying to protect the goalies. And I really believe in protecting the goalies, but how they got a power play out of that one, I have no idea.”

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Added Sportsnet’s Mark Spector: “:Not here to complain about one team or another… But this new culture where goalies can do whatever they want – but skaters get two for breathing on the ‘tendy – doesn’t work for me. They’re hockey players too.”

And the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson: “Hill is losing it on almost every play around the net. Hill takes swing with blocker at Kane after he falls on him… Total double standard on Hill pushing Hyman to ice. If other way around, it is possible penalty because goalies are bubble-wrapped.”

And hockey commentator Paul Bissonnette: “Hill has gone nuclear. He’ll be getting the bronx cheers all night if he doesn’t get the hook.”

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My take

1. Don’t you love the playoffs? Where else do you get such high drama?

2. I had missed Hill’s trickery with Janmark during the game. Most people did. But the video is clear on the matter. Hill stuck out his leg, then went down like he’s been blasted by a bazooka.

The ruse worked, with VGK going on the power play, so brilliant gamesmanship by Hill there. By over-reacting to Kane falling on him, he also drew attention to the action, earning his team yet another power play chance.

A guy could get addicted to that kind of success.

But not all in Vegas were thrilled with Hill’s overall play.

Said VGK hockey commentator Ken Boehlke of the SinBin hockey site, “Adin Hill was a big reason the game had such a spike in intensity. Whether it was premeditated or not, it didn’t work. Can’t ever truly fault the goalie when the skaters don’t score, but the VGK goalie advantage in this series has not paid off like it needs to.”

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3. Hill’s repeated assaults on Hyman going unpenalized were noticed by most observers, even those who habitually defend NHL referees.

The next time Hill pulls this act, will the officials crack down? I think Hill has dug himself a deep hole here, no?

Given Hill’s stunt with Janmark — where he fooled the referees into handing Janmark a penalty — I expect that the refs will be less inclined to cut Hill any slack.

No one likes to be made the fool, which is what Hill did to the refs with his subterfuge.

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At the Cult of Hockey

STAPLES: ‘Beaten to a pulp’: Vegas hockey world hit by fear and loathing

LEAVINS: Game grades in Edmonton’s 3-0 Game 4 win

STAPLES: ‘Total domination’: top comments from hockey world on Oilers, 3, vs Golden Knights, 0, Game 4

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