It’s been a long time coming, but this season as Flyers fans people have finally gotten to see two highly productive goaltenders. Brian Elliott has been a beast on the road, while Carter Hart has been on a whole new level at home. The two have grown to compliment each other, as well as, peanut butter compliments jelly. The only concern going into the season was if Elliott would stay healthy since he has been banged up some in the past? Well, those questions have been answered as he has played over 30 games this season, and perfectly complimented our future ace netminder in Hart. Now let’s get into the Nitty Gritty details of what makes Elliott and Hart the perfect paring.
First, let’s take a look at Elliott’s stats this year. In 31 games played Elliott is 16-7-4, with a 2.87 GAA, and a .899 SV%. He also has two shutouts on the season. One coming January 21st against the Pittsburgh Penguins as he made 19 saves, and the other coming a few weeks later on February 3rd at Detroit while making 16 saves. The key to Elliott’s stats however, are just how good he has been on the road, 12 of his 16 wins come on the road with his overall record being 12-5-2. To go along with his record, he has a 3.04 GAA, and a .896 SV% on the road. Those stats may not be eye popping numbers, but Elliott has come up big time and time again on the road making clutch saves. As far as I’m concerned 12 big wins on the road is a great season, and a clutch season. Especially since Hart’s struggles this season have come on the road, where Elliott has tended to struggle at home. So, yet again proving they compliment each other like milk pairs with cookies.
Now time to get into our future ace in Carter Hart. In 43 games played Hart has a 24-13-3 record, with a 2.42 GAA, and a .914 SV% to go long with it. Hart also has one shutout on the season coming October 9th against the Devils, a game in which he made 25 saves. As stated earlier, Hart was a monster at home, 20 of his 24 wins overall have come at the Wells Fargo Center. His overall home record is 20-3-2, with a 1.63 GAA, and a .943 SV%. Now those are eye popping and historic home stats. Of course, as previously stated that leaves Hart struggling on the road with only four wins on the season. That of course has not been an issue because of the two peas in a pod pairing Elliott and Hart have become.
The fact that they have been so great together, of course, presents the question for perhaps a future article, to which, will the Flyers re-sign Elliott? That remains to be seen, however, it should be a refreshing feel for fans knowing they now have a goalie of the future in Hart, paired with potentially his perfect back in Elliott for a few more years. What we do know now for certain as Flyers fans is we have a magnificent duo in net, and that’s something we have been waiting have for a long time coming now in Philadelphia. Furthermore, if not Elliott we should be confident as fans that General Manager Chuck Fletcher will bring in another perfect backup for our future ace.Â
