Flyers, Sizzling Carter Hart Start Road Trip in Seattle

The Philadelphia Flyers will begin a four-game road trip Thursday in Seattle, home of arguably the NHL’s most surprising team this season.

The second-yar Kraken are 30-18-6 under former Flyers coach Dave Haksol. They are in third place in the Pacific Division, just two points behind division-leading Vegas.

Seattle finished a 1-3-1 road trip Tuesday with a 3-2 shootout loss in Winnipeg.

The Flyers (22-23-10) will be well-rested Thursday. They haven’t played since dropping a 4-3 home decision to Seattle on Sunday.

Philly is carrying three goalies on the trip, and Carter Hart will undoubtedly get the call Thursday.

Carter Hart greets special guests at ⁦@NHLFlyers⁩’ practice in Seattle. Left: Hart w Parker Fowlds, his billet for 4 yrs from Everett of WHL. Right:Hart & Connor Parkkila. They have known ea other for yrs & Carter chose his No. 79 from a jersey that Connor purchased of his. pic.twitter.com/jpJCwt7ZwV

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) February 16, 2023

Hart carrying team

Hart has been brilliant recently. The 24-year-old goaltender is 3-1-3 in his last seven starts, compiling a 1.83 goals-against average and .941 save percentage in that span.

The more shots he faces, the better Hart seems to play. He is 13-5-6 when he sees 30-plus shots, including a 4-0 mark when he faces 40-plus shots.

While Hart has kept the Flyers competitive, All-Star left winger Kevin Hayes has carried the offense in the last month. He has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) over his last 18 games. Hayes has 47 points and has a team-high 30 assists.

Youth is served

Twelve of the Flyers’ players are 25 and under, including Owen Tippett. The hard-skating right winger has 15 goals and 30 points. He ranks tied for second on the Philadelphia Flyers in power-play goals (five), third in goals (15), and fifth in points (30).

Tippett, who turns 24 on Thursday, was the main player the Flyers acquired in the deal that sent long-time captain Claude Giroux to Florida.

Breakaways

Konecny will try to end a 13-game goal-less streak. … Besides Seattle, the Flyers will face Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton on the trip. … Goaltender Sam Ersson (5-0), 23, recalled from the Phantoms earlier this week, is expected to get one of the starts.. …  Rasmus Ristolainen is tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in scoring since Jan. 17. He has nine points in 11 games during that span. … Scott Laughton has 11 points in his last 14 games. … The Flyers are 5-1-3 vs. Western Conference teams on the road.

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