Remember when Carter Hart was signed by the Vegas Golden Knights and there was a stink about it? Some fans questioned why they would even bring in another goaltender into a crowded goalie room. So much drama and controversy, so little time.
Well, it seems that Hart has quietly been the difference-maker for the Golden Knights' playoff run. He has a GAA of 2.35 and a save percentage of .920, which included a dominant Game 1 performance against the Colorado Avalanche. We're talking about stopping 36 of 38 shots in a hostile road environment, stealing home-ice advantage from the Avs.
That's something that not many people are talking about in this playoff run, mind you. Many people are focused on Mitch Marner leading the NHL in playoff points (19 entering Friday) and Pavel Dorofeyev's sudden uprising (NHL-leading 10 postseason goals). However, the goaltending isn't getting enough love, specifically when it's against great teams like the Avalanche.
In fact, it could be the thing that leads the Golden Knights to their second Stanley Cup. People will talk about Marner and Dorofeyev like they're the main attractions. But the goaltending is always the glue that keeps everything upright.
Why Carter Hart's play matters for the Vegas Golden Knights
Remember all that talk about the Vegas Golden Knights having goaltender issues? It was centered around Adin Hill being constantly injured and Hart not being effective. In fact, Akira Schmid was the team's best netminder at one point, which says... a lot.
Well, it seems all that talk was because of one head coach clinging to his pet project. Of course, we're talking about Bruce Cassidy's undying loyalty to Hill. It went as far back as Cassidy substituting Logan Thompson for the Stanley Cup hero in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Dallas Stars.
Imagine what would've happened if Cassidy had stuck around and stuck with his Stanley Cup hero. It would've been a first-round exit at the hands of the Utah Mammoth. A dude in his garage would've hit the bong so hard and screamed about how the Golden Knights weren't a good team anymore.
Instead, it's John Tortorella's familiarity with his Philadelphia Flyers buddy that's leading the charge. Instead of trusting a big goaltender with a bad injury history, he's going with a butterfly-style netminder who moves quickly and covers space. In turn, it's paying dividends and leaving opponents baffled.
There isn't enough that can be said about Tortorella's massive impact on the Golden Knights. He's instilled much-needed swagger into the team and has turned water into wine. That included a once-troubled position that is suddenly a strength. All of that is thanks to a rising Carter Hart.
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