Photo Credit: Our very own Ricky Brown
Carter Hart entered the 2021 season with high expectations. High expectations for the Flyers, and for his own self. Hart was seen by some as the savior of the franchise in terms of goaltending. For his efforts, the Flyers haven’t had this type of goaltending in some time, as Hart posted a 9-5 record in the playoffs coupled with a 2.23 GAA, and a .926 Save Percentage. The future looked bright, and guess what folks it still does even after a tough 2020-21 season:
“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 trained, trained, trained, and trained again this offseason according to Hart. He might have worked on getting bigger in the net, after notching his 5th career shutout to include playoffs last night. Hart was much bigger in the net, which is good to cut down angles, as opposed to last season. I’m sure he’s worked very hard with goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh in this particular area, and it paid off at least last night. This should give him confidence moving forward, and he snared a puck out of the air with his glove to make a dandy of a save in the first period of regulation. To me this shows he is a confident netminder.
“I feel good. I mean we have a good group here. We have fun and we’re coming to work every day, our guys are doing their job in front of me of boxing guys out and letting me see the puck and of creating second chances, so we’ve done a good job of that so far.” – Carter Hart
Last night, Hart saved all 29 shots that came his way. It’s about getting into a rhythm for goaltenders in the early going, and Hart certainly has done that compiling a 3-2-1 record, 2.33 GAA, and a .928 Save Percentage in six games played.
One area of his game that stood out to me last night was he was much bigger in the net. He took up a lot of space, and really forced some of the Arizona Coyotes players to overthink their shots at times. As mentioned above, at times last season Hart seemed to be much smaller in the net, so he’s off to a good start early in the pre-season
“Well I just think he is battling extremely hard on all shots. Technically, I’m not a goaltender expert, so I couldn’t really give you the fundamentals there. He seems in a real good place mentally. Been playing extremely well. Played extremely well again tonight. We’re like every team in the NHL that wants to have success, you have to have good goaltending and we are definitely getting it right now.” Head Coach Alain Vigneault said on Carter Hart
Sean Couturier
Believe it or not Couturier suited up to play in his 700th career NHL game last night, which is 12th all-time in Flyers history. He will only be 25 games from 11th held by Gary Dornhoefer, and 27 games away for 10th all-time in Flyers history held by Jake Voracek. Moreover, his 700 career NHL games is the most from the 2011 Draft class, per the Flyers. Couturier is the embodiment of what it means to be a Flyer.
“Time flies. Feels like yesterday I was at my first game, like I said, time flies. Just trying to enjoy it the most I can. Hopefully many more.” Sean Couturier said following the game, and got a rousing ovation from the media in attendance.
For his efforts, Couturier netted one goal, and registered one assist last night bringing his total to 11 points in eight games played, which leads the orange and black. He continues to hone in on his craft, as he stays late almost every practice.
Fletcher called Couturier a premier and elite player in the NHL. Well, Couturier is off to a great start on this young season, as he leads the Flyers in points with 11. He quietly has posted four goals and seven assists, as he is trying to prove last season was a fluke in terms of how the Flyers played.
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A Return To The Farg
Shayne Gostisbehere returned to the Wells Fargo Center, where he received a classy tribute from the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period of last night’s game. Flyers fans saluted they’re once beloved Ghost, and rightfully so he saluted them back as our photographer Ricky Brown captured the shot of such.
Ghost will always be loved in Philadelphia, as he has had some pretty memorable moments at the Farg. He was always outspoken, and Flyers fans appreciate his honesty. Especially after last season when he said that the Flyers were playing like “s***”.
Flyers Notes:
Claude Giroux is aging like a fine wine, as he has posted five goals and five assists for a total of 10 points in eight games played.
