Philadelphia Flyers
What’s wrong with Flyers’ Carter Hart?
Goaltender Carter Hart, who has had a nice-bounce-back season with the Philadelphia Flyers, was missing from practice Thursday in Voorhees.
After practice interim coach Mike Yeo said Hart was given an extra day off the ice as a precaution, “and I’m anticipating that he’s going to be fine.”
Yeo said Hart will practice Friday, and “as long as he feels good through practice, then we’ll have him ready to go for the weekend.”
The Flyers play Toronto at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, and the Rangers on Sunday in New York.
If all goes well, Hart will play in one of those games.
Hart, 23, victimized by poor defensive play in front of him, has been much better than his stats indicate.
“One of the things I’ve been really happy about with Hartsy is his willingness to continue to battle, and keep a great attitude and not get frustrated,” Yeo said. “I think it is going to serve him well going forward.”
Hart did not participate in the morning skate Tuesday in Minnesota and did not play that night in a 4-1 loss to the Wild.
That day, Yeo downplayed Hart’s status, saying he had a “nagging” injury and that he expected him to play Saturday.
Hart is 13-21-7 with a 3.04 GAA and .909 save percentage. Last season, he was 9-11-5 with a 3.67 GAA and .877 save percentage.
“Even though he’s not necessarily getting a ton of wins,” Yeo said, “I feel this has still been a productive year for him. He’s still growing and still improving in a lot of areas, and obviously that’s good for the future.”
Yeo said it’s “real tough not to get down on yourself and not to focus on things that are outside your control. He’s done an outstanding job of resetting every game and getting focused on the next game.
“His win-loss record is not outstanding, but with the things he can control, I think he’s done a really, really good job.”
Yeo on snakebitten Owen Tippett, who has hit iron 3x and is still looking for his first goal with #Flyers pic.twitter.com/eFQSC2Xiop
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 31, 2022
2 others missing
Left winger Oskar Lindblom (maintenance day) and defenseman Keith Yandle (ill) also missed Thursday’s practice. Both are expected to be at Friday’s practice, per Yeo.
Defenseman Ronnie Attard, who will make his NHL debut Saturday, was on the third pairing Thursday with Nick Seeler. Left winger Noah Cates, coming off a strong debut Tuesday in Minnesota, was on the top line with Joel Farabee and Cam Atkinson.
Thompson returning
Fourth-line center Nate Thompson, who had shoulder surgery and hasn’t played since Nov. 26, will return to the lineup Saturday. “You want to be in the trenches with the guys,” Thompson said.
Scott Laughton, recovering from a concussion, still isn’t ready to return.
“Teague was the best player in the ice,” kidded Nate Thompson about having his son on the ice at the #Flyers’ practice the other day. pic.twitter.com/BWuL2qjdlR
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 31, 2022
The Flyers need new goalies. And the rest of the needs to protect both Hart, and Jones. But most of all, Chuck Fletcher needs to go.
Loyal Flyers fan from Denver, CO
They’re going to screw up the coach, maybe Hart finally has some defense next year, and has better numbers….But none of it matters if the don’t resign G’ in the off-season so he can finish his career here in Philly with a “C” on his sweater !
I agree with you Jason. Everyone on the other blogs keep saying that he should not come back. The were also upset because I said on the blogs that I had been crying for several days after G got traded. I also saw on one of the Twitter Feeds about Clarde G. that after his last game as a Flyer when he went out for drinks for the sast time with his Flyers teammates , that he was crying bitterly and was shaking very hard. I hope to God that he-signs with the Flyers and can agin wear the C on his Flyers Sweater and continue to lead the team that is truly in his blood. He has done some wonderful things for the city of, Philadelphia. His wife and 2 little sons like it. The Flyers fans love him and his whole family. His fellow Flyers love him too for the leadership and encouragement that he gave them. Even Bobby Clarke was very kind to him during his last game. I think the Chuck Fletcher forced his hand and he had no choice but to go to the Panthers. G needs to be able to come back as a Flyer, and then he can retire with the team that he “truly loves.” Hoping that he can raise the Stanley Cup as a Panther and then help Our boys in Orange and Black raise the Cup for the Flyers. In fact I have been following the Flyers since 1974 season. The one in which they won their first Stanley Cup I was in 10th grade in highschool when that happened.
GO FLYERS!!! GO G!!! Jeffery Savage, Still a Diehard Flyers fan from, Denver, CO