The Arizona Coyotes picked up their third win in five games with a 5-4 OT victory over the Anaheim Ducks, with goaltender Adin Hill continuing to impress.
Hill has been forced into regular minutes for the Arizona Coyotes after starting goaltender Antti Raanta was placed on the injured-reserve list.
Raanta is expected to miss the entire season, leaving Darcy Kuemper and Tucson Roadrunners’ Hill as the top two options available for the team.
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With the big Finn injured, the Coyotes moved quickly to claim Calvin Pickard from the Philadelphia Flyers off waivers.
But the performances of Hill have kept Pickard out of the line-up, with the 22-year-old Canadian registering a 7-3-0 record in 11 games he has appeared in.
The 3rd round (76th overall) selection in the 2015 NHL Draft has averaged just 2.39 goals against so far this season, with a solid save percentage of .916.
In the Coyotes’ most recent game, a 5-4 OT winner against the Ducks, Hill stood tall and saved an impressive 37 shots out of 41 he faced on the night.
The Coyotes were hoping to take big steps forward after a hugely disappointing campaign in 2017/18, but things have not quite progressed as much as they’d hoped.
Losing Raanta for the season saw many fans believe the writing was on the wall, but with the team earning three wins out of their last five games, there might still be hope the team can sneak into a wildcard spot.
With Hill performing so well, there might be some calls to have him step into the starting role in place of Kuemper – who is 1-4-0 in his last five games.
Having a sturdy starting goaltender is crucial for any playoff hopeful in the NHL, especially when the team is still some way outside of the playoff places.
If John Chayka and Rick Tocchet hope to guide the Coyotes back to the prominence this season, then they will need to ensure they have the best possible option between the pipes.
As things stand, that could very well by Adin Hill and questions will be asked of the team if he continues to perform well as a backup while Kuemper struggles.
What do you think Coyotes fans? Should Hill be given more opportunities with the team, especially with his current record? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!