Mature Well Beyond His Age, Flyers Believe Carter Hart Is Ready For First Playoff Experience
When the Philadelphia Flyers entered the bubble, there wasn’t many, if any, question marks around the team. The only concern that surrounded this Flyers team was its rookie status.
In their first game on Sunday vs Boston, four Flyers made their “playoff” debuts. None bigger than star young net-minder, Carter Hart.
Carter Hart has been on the fast-track to become the Flyers backbone since being drafted in 2016. A rise that took a huge step last season in the middle of an organizational change.
Since making his debut last season at age 20, Hart has checked off all the tests he has faced except for one. The only test not checked off was the playoffs.
Before the Covid shutdown, Hart was experiencing his first push to the playoffs. A push that started in mid-January when the Flyers were battling for wild-card position.
From mid-January til the shutdown, Hart was 11-2-0 with 2.08GAA & .928%. A stretch that elevated the Flyers from wild-card bubble to 1-point behind the Capitals for the Metro Division lead.
However, if you ask Hart’s teammates, Carter doesn’t look like this is his first rodeo.
“When he puts his mask on, you don’t know how old he is,” Flyers forward Derek Grant noted. “He’s a special kid. He’s so calm & always in the right spot.”
Carter Hart’s age & inexperience have been a question throughout the NHLs restart. Many people being concerned about Hart not having the experience of a different animal that the playoffs are.
“He’s a true pro, reminds me a little bit of a goalie I used to play with in Montreal,” Flyers forward Nate Thompson said. “He’s pretty poised & carries himself well beyond his years. I’ve been here for a short time but he doesn’t look 21 to me.”
Even with the inexperience, that hasn’t stopped Hart from impressing early in Toronto. Especially in a building that Carter made his first appearance in last Tuesday in the exhibition game against the Penguins.
“He’s just so calm in the net & just great for us,” Flyers forward Tyler Pitlick said. “He’s always in right position to make the save. Just confident & very good goaltender.”
This season, Hart has been through his ups & downs. But, through it all, the team has been behind their 21-year-old net-minder.
With everything being so new, Carter himself even admits it will be a different experience…
“I think it was just nice to get things rolling and just feel what it’s like to be in a game. For us, it’s a different environment. Something we’re not used to. No fans. We’re all in this bubble. It’s something that’s different. We’ll adjust. We put ourselves in a good position, so we’re lucky to have four games here to see what it’s going to be like. As opposed to some teams that get one exhibition game and then have to fight for their lives to get into the post season. I think we put ourselves in a spot to get these four games. It’ll be nice to ease our way back into things.”
Hart is 1-0-0 with 1.20GAA & .958% in his first two appearances in Toronto. If Hart’s first two performances are any indication of whats to come, the Flyers could be in for a long run. A run that Hart’s teammates believe he is ready to lead in his first playoff experience.