Photo Credit: Katelynn Reiss
“I think Hartsy was really, really good tonight and gave us a chance,” Scott Laughton said of Carter Hart following the Pittsburgh game. Carter Hart entered the 2021-22 season with high expectations. High expectations for the Flyers, and for his own self:
“I believe in myself and I believe that I can be a top goaltender in this league. I’m just going to look forward to a great offseason of training. Get settled back in with my family and friends, and get a good plan going forward for this offseason.”– Carter Hart said at exit interviews
Hart appears to be on his game, and the Flyers are reaping the benefits of such. If it were not for Hart last night, the Flyers undoubtedly wouldn’t have earned a valuable point in the standings. He is much bigger in the net, which is good to cut down angles, as opposed to last season where he made himself smaller in the net. I’m sure he’s worked very hard with goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh in this particular area, and it has been paying off big time. This should give him confidence moving forward, “Carter made some big saves when he had to,” Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said following the game, as Vigneault continues to praise his young netminder.
Last night, Hart saved 33 out of 36 shots that came his way, which was good enough for a .917 Save Percentage. It’s about getting into a rhythm for goaltenders in the early going, and Hart certainly has done that compiling a 3-2-2 record, 2.41 GAA, and a .926 Save Percentage in six games played.
One area of his game that stood out to me was his positioning. He didn’t appear to be fighting the puck, rather he was seeing it quite well, thus helping his positioning. Hart is much more confident in cutting down angles this year, and he’s moving laterally from post to post rather well.
In the early going, it’s great to see the Flyers get good Goaltending. In reality the season really rides on Carter Hart’s shoulders, as Hart goes so does the Flyers.
