Throughout past two days of press conferences with the Flyers, some people within the media have asked Carter Hart, his teammates, and Head Coach Alain Vigneault questions about what it will be like for Hart playing against his childhood idol in Canadiens Goaltender Carey Price? Hart thinks it will be cool, but at the end of the day he has a job to do. He remains focused and determined, calm and steady at the podium, and calm as a cucumber as he usually is between the pipes. However, some people within the Canadian media have this narrative that Carter Hart will be fazed by playing his childhood idol in Carey Price.
To be honest with you I don’t really understand this narrative, Hart was 1-0 against the Canadiens this year, while posting a 1.97 GAA, and a .917 Save Percentage. This narrative of Hart being phased by playing his childhood idol seems to be blown out of proportion, at the end of the day they are foes on the ice. Carter may have been six-years-old when Price was drafted, but he is 21-years-old now and more determined than ever, “We’re definitely all excited to get going here,” Hart said yesterday, “Played really well in the three round robin games and now we’re just looking to carry it over into Game 1 of the first round. Our D has been really solid. Not only our D, but our forwards coming back and helping as well. Our PK has been really solid for our whole three games there this past week. I’m liking where our group’s at right now. We’re all excited to get this going.”
Hart answered the the question of playing Carey Price assertively and calmly, “Definitely really cool obviously with him being my favorite goalie growing up,” Hart said, “At the end of the day, we’re playing the Montreal Canadiens. We’re not just playing one player. We know they’re a good team too. They got some guys that score and some good players. We’ll prepare like we always do and just be ready for tomorrow.”
For those that forget, 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.
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. Now it’s his net to lose once again against the Canadiens, “At the end of the day, I have a job to do and that’s to stop the puck for my team,” Hart says, “He’s got the same job as well. We’re playing the Montreal Canadiens. We’re not playing one single guy. I’ll prepare like I always prepare and we’ll all be ready. Everyone has a job to do. We’ll all just prepare and be ready to go.”
Hart was clearly leading the charge to the finish line. 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, “Hartsy is an elite goalie,” Kevin Hayes said Monday, “He’s a young kid. He’s showing everyone that he belongs in the conversation with some of these top goalies. I know when I entered the league, I played against guys that I looked up to when I was in college and in high school. I’m sure it’s the same for Hartsy. When the puck drops, he has to focus on his game and I’m sure that’s what we’ll get from him.”
A person doesn’t just throw out that term “Elite.” Hayes really believes Hart will be fine as he usually he is, and treat this like any other game. Hart is the real deal, and he takes all the blame for a loss that’s what good players do. He will continue to excel against Montreal, Mark My Words.
