Carter Hart Steals The Show, Earns 1st Career Shutout In Home Opener
After Ben Simmons three pointer blew the roof of the Wells Fargo Center last night, the Flyers didn’t allow for any reconstruction. The Philadelphia Flyers beat the New Devils, 4-0, in their home opener in-front of a roaring sold-out crowd Wednesday night.
Being outshot and outplayed after the 1st period, the Flyers came out blazing and roaring to start the 2nd period. Registering the first 7 shots on goal and finishing the period outshooting the Devils 15-7. They would also score the games first goal 9:52 into the period. A point shot by Ivan Provorov on the power-play would give the Flyers a 1-0 lead.
The scoring would continue after the Flyers came out ready to go in the 3rd period as well. Kevin Hayes would get his first in a Flyers uniform just 33 seconds into the period. Sean Couturier would get his first of the season 24 seconds later giving the Flyers an 3-0 lead they would not let go of.
Carter Hart was outstanding in his first of many home openers to come over his career. Hart stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first career shutout in the win.
Here are more observations from the Flyers 4-0 win over the Devils…
Theme Of Night – First Of Many
Before the game, the theme, first of many, started with Carter Hart making his first career home opener start. Something that Hart will hopefully be apart of over his hopefully long career in Philadelphia. But, it wouldn’t stop there.
Newcomer, Kevin Hayes, would get his first goal in a Flyers sweater early in the 3rd period. Another newcomer, Matt Niskanen, would also get his first point. Niskanen got the primary assist on the Flyers first goal of the night.
But to cap it all off. Flyers head coach, Alain Vigneault, would get his first win behind the Flyers bench at the Wells Fargo Center. After receiving a very warm reception during introductions before the game, Vigneault would walk off the bench postgame victorious and a 2-0 record to start the season.
My O’My Carter F*CKING Hart
Let me introduce myself. Holy moly. Carter Hart, in his first full season as the Flyers starting goalie, is off to a hot start. After winning game 1 in Prague last Friday, Hart continued his impressive start to the season with a 25-save shutout tonight.
Looking a little shaky late in the game in Prague, Hart would show no rust or jitters tonight. After a 10-save 1st period, Hart would stop the remaining 15 shots over the final two periods for his first career shutout. Hart came close a couple times last season to a shutout, but a couple late goals would be the end to those tries.
Tonight, Hart was outstanding. Including a possible save of the year candidate in the 2nd on a 5v3. Hart would rob Taylor Hall on a post-to-post save to a loud roar from the Wells Fargo Center crowd.
The young 21-year-old is being asked alot of early in his career, but Hart is holding his own and is impressing each and every start.
5v3 Fuels The Victory
With 2:31 left in the 2nd period, the Flyers had their backs against a wall. After their best penalty killer, Sean Couturier was whistled for a delay of game penalty, their second best penalty killer Kevin Hayes was also whistled for one on the ensuring face-off. This would lead to a full 2-min power-play for the Devils.
After failing to clear off an opening face-off win, Carter Hart knew his number would be called. The goalie is always your # 1 penalty killer and Hart showed that on this 5v3 kill. None better than the highway robbery save on Taylor Hall midway through the power-play.
The full 5v3 2min kill would give the Flyers so energy to start the 3rd period. Where they would score 2 goals in the first minute of the period to extend their lead to 3-0.
Result : Flyers 4 – Devils 0, WIN
Record : 2 – 0 – 0
Next Game : 10/12 Vancouver Canucks, Vancouver Canada, 10:00pm