Carter Hart Is Back, and Vegas Just Reminded Everyone Why That Matters

Carter Hart stepped off injured reserve Thursday night and didn't waste any time proving why the Vegas Golden Knights signed him to that two-year deal back in October. The goalie stopped 19 shots in Vegas's 6-3 win over Calgary, and honestly, shaking off that much rust and still playing well is exactly what you want to see.

Hart had been sidelined since January 8 when he took a left leg injury against Columbus. That's a long time on the shelf. But when he took the net Thursday, he showed flashes of the goalie Vegas knew they were getting. "Obviously, there's a little bit of rust to shake off when you haven't played for a few months," Hart said after the game. "I think as the game went on, I felt better and better. We did a good job of boxing guys out and blocking some shots."

The Third Period Was Hart's Best Work

Vegas fell behind three times before finally breaking things open in the third period. Hart wasn't heavily tested in that frame, but he was sharp when he needed to be, stopping all three shots that came his way. Coach John Tortorella clearly felt good about what he saw. "I thought he handled himself well," Tortorella said. "He made some key saves at key times. I liked his game."

Tortorella and Hart have history too. They worked together in Philadelphia from 2022-24, and it's clear there's real respect there. "Carter and I have a really good relationship," Tortorella said. "He's becoming a really good pro. I love the kid. He's handled himself so well through some pretty hard times the past couple of years. I think he's a good kid. People have made judgments on him. People are still making judgments on him." Hart echoed that sentiment, saying "I loved playing for Torts in Philly. We got along really well, and I think he's going to add a really good spark to our group here."

What's Next for Vegas's Goalie Situation

With Hart back, Vegas now has three goalies on the roster. Adin Hill has been handling most of the starts, and Akira Schmid is also in the mix. Tortorella wasn't exactly laying out a master plan for how he'll juggle the three. "I have no plan on how to attack it," he said. "I have a plan on who the goalie's going to be the next game." Fair enough. One game at a time.

Hart signed his two-year, $4 million contract after the league cleared him to play starting December 1. His first NHL appearance came December 2 in a 4-3 win over Chicago, and now he's back in action. Vegas needed this win and needed to see Hart respond. Thursday night, he delivered.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.