Golden Knights' Goalie Woes Could Derail Playoff Run

Adin Hill and Carter Hart's struggles in net could prove fatal for Vegas in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:11pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a hockey goaltender making a save, with the player's body and equipment broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors representing the Golden Knights and Mammoth team uniforms.The Golden Knights' goaltending issues could prove to be their undoing against the high-powered Mammoth offense in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.NYC Today

The Vegas Golden Knights have clinched a playoff spot for the eighth time in their nine-season history, but their goaltending situation could be their downfall. Starter Adin Hill has struggled mightily this season with a .870 save percentage, while backup Carter Hart, who was signed after being acquitted of sexual assault charges, has also underperformed with a .891 save percentage. With the high-powered Utah Mammoth awaiting them in the first round, the Golden Knights' goaltending woes could prove to be their fatal flaw.

Why it matters

The Golden Knights have been one of the NHL's most successful expansion teams, making the playoffs in all but one of their seasons and winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. However, their inability to find consistent goaltending this year could prevent them from making a deep playoff run and potentially winning another championship.

The details

The Golden Knights started the season with Hill as their unquestioned starter, but his play has fallen off a cliff this season, posting a dismal .870 save percentage in 27 games. The team then took a risk by signing Carter Hart in November after he was acquitted of sexual assault charges, but Hart has also struggled with a .891 save percentage in 18 games. With injuries to both goalies, the team has had to rely on Akira Schmid, who has been a replacement-level goalie. The Golden Knights' new head coach, John Tortorella, has started to lean more on Hart down the stretch, but it remains to be seen if he can find the right goaltending combination to lead the team on a deep playoff run.

  • The Golden Knights clinched a playoff spot with a 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on April 12, 2026.
  • Adin Hill has played 27 games for the Golden Knights this season, posting a .870 save percentage.
  • Carter Hart was signed by the Golden Knights in November 2025 after being acquitted of sexual assault charges, and has played 18 games this season with a .891 save percentage.

The players

Adin Hill

The Golden Knights' starting goaltender, who led the team to the Stanley Cup in 2023 but has struggled mightily this season with a .870 save percentage.

Carter Hart

The backup goaltender signed by the Golden Knights in November 2025 after being acquitted of sexual assault charges, who has also underperformed with a .891 save percentage in 18 games this season.

Akira Schmid

The replacement-level goaltender who has played the most games for the Golden Knights this season due to injuries to Hill and Hart.

John Tortorella

The new head coach of the Golden Knights, who was hired with just eight games left in the regular season and led the team to a 7-0-1 record and a Pacific Division championship.

Utah Mammoth

The Golden Knights' first-round playoff opponent, who have a high-powered offense that could take advantage of the team's goaltending issues.

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What they’re saying

“This shows Tortorella's hand as to who will start in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hart will likely start, which no one saw coming just six months ago when he was in a courtroom.”

— Christopher Hennessy, Author

What’s next

If the Mammoth take advantage of the Golden Knights' goaltending issues early in the series, head coach John Tortorella will need to be ready to make a change in net. The team has other options besides Hart, and their high-powered offense could help overcome some shaky goaltending, but the goaltending situation remains a major concern heading into the playoffs.

The takeaway

The Golden Knights' inability to find consistent goaltending this season, with both Adin Hill and Carter Hart struggling, could be their downfall in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their first-round matchup against the high-scoring Utah Mammoth will be a major test, and the team's goaltending woes could prove to be their fatal flaw in their quest for another championship.