Carter Hart entered the 2019-20 season with some unknowns. Some questions were how would this young netminder handle the rigors of a full NHL season, or would he get rattled enough to just give up during a game if the wheels start falling off the bus? Valid questions, but it turns out Carter had a great season and he’s just 22-years-old.
Hart had some downs, however, his season was mainly filled with ups. He was able to rid of some bad habits with cutting down angles, and making himself bigger in the net after working tirelessly with Kim Dillabaugh. Hart was just spectacular for the most part in just his first full season for the Flyers. He 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.
He is now 7-4 in the playoffs, with a 2.08 GAA, and a .931 Save Percentage. Unbelievable right. The Flyers loss last night was not Hart’s fault, and for that matter it shouldn’t be a debate as to what netminder should play tonight in a pivotal game 4. It should be the one and only Carter Hart.
Hart is 3-0 with a 1.65 GAA after a loss in the playoffs. He just seems to relish the role of bouncing back. Hart is one main reason the Flyers have eight wins in the playoffs thus far, so it would be right to start him in a must win game 4. Win and the Flyers even the series at 2, lose with Brian Elliott between the pipes and the Flyers are down 3-1. Moreover, if the Flyers lost questions would then surface saying what if Alain Vigneault started Hart? The Flyers have not lost back to back games since January 7, and are 3-0 in games after a loss in the playoffs. Let Hart start tonight, as the Flyers wouldn’t be here without him.
This is the best team in years, and a lot of that has to do with Hart. He’s an amazing, talented netminder. Now it’s his time to shine, and hopefully he’s tabbed as the starter tonight.
