Hill comes to the rescue as Knights snap three-game skid

LAS VEGAS — Tuesday didn’t start well for the Vegas Golden Knights. But it ended up being a good day.

Goaltender Carter Hart tweaked something in his leg and hobbled off the ice in the morning skate at City National Arena prior to Tuesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. Adin Hill stepped in and had one of his best performances in a while. And Raphael Lavoie picked the perfect time to score his first NHL goal as he delivered 8:01 into the third period to break a 1-1 deadlock as Vegas snapped its three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win at a less-than-full T-Mobile Arena where the announced attendance was 16,663.

The team didn’t disclose details on Hart’s injury. Coach Ryan Craig said following the game that Hart was still being evaluated. With Hart unavailable, the Knights recalled Cameron Whitehead from their AHL affiliate in Henderson to back up Hill. They also welcomed back Mitch Marner, who missed the recent two-game road trip to be in Las Vegas for the birth of his second child.

But there were more lineup changes. Defenseman Ville Heinola made his VGK debut and he picked up an assist on Lavoie’s goal.

“It was a good team effort,” Craig said. “I thought we managed the puck better than we had the last few games and that was key.”

The big news is Hart. Those who saw him leave the morning skate prematurely said it didn’t look good and if he misses any significant amount of time, it’s going to mean a lot of work for Hill, who hasn’t played consecutive games in net since late last March.

“I just tried to get ready like it was a normal game,” Hill said of his preparedness. “We needed to turn the corner and it was a big win. They’re a good hockey team over there, the Senators, we found a way to get it done.”

Hill was on point Tuesday as he stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced and had a couple of spectacular saves, the best coming in the second period during an Ottawa power play when he stopped Tim Stutzle who looked like he had Hill dead to rights.

The Sens’ star center was all alone and was ready to put his team in front. But Hill dove to his left across the crease and got his left arm on the puck to keep it out and keep the game 0-0.

Late in the period, Hill won a race for a loose puck against Ridley Grieg, who was looking to score shorthanded with Michael Amadio in the box. The two collided, Hill’s stick broke in the process but the puck never made it into the net.

Play went the other way with Jack Eichel setting up Shea Theodore who found Ivan Barbashev, whose shot was blocked only to have Braeden Bowman pick up the loose change and get it past Jonas Johansson with 11 seconds left in the period for a 1-0 Vegas lead.

“I thought Hilly was real good,” Craig said of his goaltender. “The save he made in the second period gave us some life. He makes the play on the power play, no hesitation. Trusts his read. He gave us a chance to win the hockey game. He was prepared and ready to play.”

The Sens got it back early in the third on their power play as Shane Pinto broke in alone and beat Hill 34 seconds in with Barbashev sitting for roughing at the end of the second. It stayed 1-1 until Lavoie’s heroics. William Karlsson’s empty net goal with 1:59 to go sealed it and put an end to the skid. Eichel added an empty-netter with :06 remaining.

Lavoie, who wasn’t scheduled to play but was in the lineup due to salary cap considerations, said getting that first goal will always be special. But for it to be the ultimate game-winner means more.

“They told me before I left the rink I was playing tonight so it meant a lot,” Lavoie said. “It’s been a long time coming. It feels real good.”

Craig said Lavoie took advantage of his opportunity and to see both he and Bowman contribute on the scoresheet is what every coach hopes for.

“Sometimes that’s what happens,” Craig said of Lavoie being inserted into the lineup at the last minute. “You just go out and play and hanging around the net good things can happen.”

But with Hill handling things in his net and the guys in front of him blocking shots — Vegas blocked 23 Ottawa shots — and winning enough puck battles, the Knights were able to put the losing streak behind them and look to build some momentum with New Jersey and Connor Hellebuyck coming to town Friday on Nevada Day before the team heads east for a four-game road trip beginning Monday in Boston. Hill will be leaned on heavily if Hart is unable to go.

“I feel good about my game right now,” Hill said. “I just keep working on things in practice and stay dialed in and get ready for the next one.”