Hart Focused On The Task At Hand
BRIDGEPORT, CT -- While the Lehigh Valley Phantoms have been busy as of late, so too has Carter Hart in the month and a half.
After earning his first NHL recall on Monday, December 17th and making his highly anticipated NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers the next night - a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings - Hart quickly became the NHL club's go-to goalie. Heading into the team's bye week and break for the NHL All-Star festivities, Hart started the Flyers' last five games - winning four of them and improving his own personal NHL record to 6-5-1.
"The last three games up in Philly have been really good for us. And we need to keep it going." Hart said after his start in Bridgeport tonight. "Right now, the boys are competing hard and we're battling. We are battling for every point we can get, and we want to keep it going."
After returning home to catch up with family and friends, and a bit of a break from the rink, the Flyers loaned Hart to Lehigh Valley prior to this weekend's Phantoms games to get in some game action. Presumably to keep Hart sharp for when the Flyers return to game action on Monday in Philadelphia against Winnipeg.
Hart got the start Saturday night in Bridgeport, and was immediately thrust into action - facing 20 shots in the opening 20 minutes of the contest. Having not played since last Saturday in the Flyers' 5-2 win in Montreal, there certainly didn't appear to be any rust for the 20-year-old goaltender. He came up with a highlight reel glove save on Travis St. Denis in the opening 2:20 of play to keep the game scoreless, and instantly reminded everyone he has earned his time in the NHL -- and is likely heading right back to Philadelphia after the game.
"Yeah, I just kind of saw the puck squirt loose and he had to kind of tap it in," Hart told Inside AHL Hockey after the game. "Just try to get there as quick as I can to stop it."
Hart's solid play continued throughout the contest, finishing with 32 saves on 35 shots in the loss.
"Real solid. All through the game," Phantoms head coach Kerry Huffman said after the game, adding that the goals he allowed were the result of pucks being turned over and not on the play of the goaltender. "I thought he was rock solid."
Hart said he was well aware of the plan heading into the Flyers' break. Get home to get away from the rink and see family & friends, then get a game with the AHL affiliate before returning back to the NHL for the Flyers' next game Monday.
"That was kind of the idea they had for me when I went home for the break was to come back, get a morning skate in and get a game in as well," Hart told Inside AHL Hockey. "I think that was good to stay sharp and be ready for Monday."
