Carter Hart was just spectacular for the most part in just his first full season for the Flyers. Harttacular posted a 24-13-3 record, with a 2.42 GAA (8th best in the league), and a .914 Save Percentage. What more could one expect from a 21-year-old in just his first full season in the NHL. At home he was lights out accumulating a 20-3-2 record, 1.63 GAA, and a .943 Save Percentage. Simply put, Hart proved he was the franchise Goaltender the Flyers have needed since President Reagan was in office. There is one more thing, his season was so good it was comparable to a Goaltending legend in Martin Brodeur.
Brodeur’s first season was a really good one in 1993-94. He finished the year 27-11-8 in 47 games played. Moreover, Brodeur posted a 2.40 GAA, with a .915 Save Percentage. Hart as previously stated posted a 24-13-3 record in 43 games played, with a 2.42 GAA, and .914 Save Percentage. This is just insane that the Flyers could terrorize their division for once with a franchise netminder, much like Brodeur terrorized the Flyers and the Atlantic Division for years.
Hart was on fire in his last five games until the season was halted due to the Coronavirus, as Hart posted a 2.00 GAA, and a .929 Save Percentage. Talk about heating up at the right time for the playoff push. It was his net, and his to lose at that point in the season.
Yesterday was his first taste of post-season experience in the NHL. The NHL playoffs are grueling and intense, but Hart handled it like a champion. He was calm, cool as a cucumber, very composed, the Flyers and goalie coach Kim Dillabaugh did a good job at preparing Hart for the tough battle he was faced with. Hart and the Flyers headed into the tunnel at the end of the first intermission with the score 0-0, and that was solely because of Hart. He stood on his head at times, and allowed the players to get their legs underneath them, “I know I’ve been here for a short time but he doesn’t look 21 to me,” Nate Thompson said, “He’s pretty poised, even off the ice. He carries himself well beyond his years. He’s a true pro. He reminds me a little bit of a goalie I used to play with in Montreal and you guys know who I’m talking about. He’s our backbone back there and he was really good tonight for us.”
Hart was so good yesterday that he became youngest netminder in Flyers in history to win a postseason game, surpassing Pete Peeters (22). What more can Hart do? It is so rare for a young netminder at the age of 21 to excel like he has all season, “Once you get out there and start playing, the game really slows down,” Carter Hart said, “Obviously it’s a little different playoffs. We don’t have fans. Maybe that make it a little bit different. When the game’s going, when the puck drops, it’s all the same. You got to just prepare and execute and play you game.”
The young netminder in Hart was clearly leading the charge to the finish line four the pause. He worked with Goalie Coach Kim Dillabaugh on cutting down his angles, and he has also become bigger in the net. This was all very noticeable from February until the season was halted. Hart had cat like reflexes, as he moved post to post with ease. He was just so darn confident as he makes glove save after glove save. Hart was also rarely rattled it appeared, as he made tough saves look easy.
This young man in Hart has electrified the fan base, and has cemented himself as the guy between the pipes for the orange and black for the foreseeable future. Most fans knew he was special, but it was great to see him flourish down the stretch in big playoff like atmosphere games, and maybe that prepared him for yesterday’s battle against the Boston Bruins. Hart knows he has stay focused, but have fun in the same token. He is the real deal, and he takes all the blame for a loss. That’s just what good players do. Hart will continue to have a lot of highs, but some lows, as well. We as people just have to remember, he is just 21-years-old with just so much potential.
I was fortunate enough to watch his whole career with the Everett silvertips as a goal judge in the Western Hockey League. I’m not surprised by anything that he does,it was amazing to watch his game grow. The cool composure he has was in him from day one the fans in Philly are in for years of excitement if he stays healthy and they open the check book when the day comes.
agreed. i was able to watch his jr career with the tips also. from the stands of course. great kid , super focused and just as intense a competitor. he was so fun to watch.
all the best wishes for his career. he will be a great nhl goalie.