Carter Hart Stops 19 Shots in Vegas Win, Back From Nearly Three Months Out

Las Vegas Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart is officially back. After spending nearly three months on injured reserve following a left leg injury suffered on January 8 against Columbus, Hart was activated and led Vegas to a 6-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night, making 19 saves in the process.

Shaking Off the Rust

Hart wasn't shy about the challenge of returning from such a long absence. "Obviously, there's a little bit of rust to shake off when you haven't played for a few months," he said after the game. But he also made it clear he felt better as the contest wore on. "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 Knights fell behind three times before finally breaking things open in the third period, a stretch where Hart faced minimal action. He stopped all three shots that came his way in that final frame, though he acknowledged he'll need to tighten up on a couple of earlier goals. "Their last two, I got a little deep in the net there. I'll make adjustments and learn from it and go from there."

Tortorella's Vote of Confidence

Coach John Tortorella, now in his second game since replacing Bruce Cassidy, was impressed with what he saw. "I thought he handled himself well. He made some key saves at key times. I liked his game," Tortorella said. The two have history, having worked together in Philadelphia from 2022-24, and that familiarity clearly matters.

"Carter and I have a really good relationship," Tortorella explained. "He's becoming a really good pro. I love the kid." The coach also defended Hart against the noise surrounding him over recent years. "People have made judgments on him. People are still making judgments on him. But I think he's a good kid."

Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Vegas in October and made his first NHL appearance in nearly two years on December 2 in a 4-3 win over Chicago. With Hart now back in the fold, the Golden Knights have three goalies on the roster. Adin Hill has been operating as the starter, and Akira Schmid is also available. Tortorella wasn't committing to any long-term goalie plans. "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."

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