Meltzer's Player Profiles: Carter Hart

Still just 21 years old, Flyers goaltender Carter Hart is already well on his way to blossoming into a bonafide star in the National Hockey League. The two-time CHL Goaltender of the Year and three-time Del Wilson Trophy (Western Hockey League goaltender of the year) winner has already racked up 40 wins at the NHL level in 70 career starts and four relief appearances.

This season -- Hart's first full campaign in the NHL -- the young netminder has put up spectacular statistics on home ice. His road numbers lagged far behind until shortly before the schedule stoppage but he played very well in recent road victories over the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. As a rookie in 2018-19, Hart actually had slightly better road stats than home numbers.
Although he is a fine natural athlete who can make spectacular saves when he needs to, Hart's biggest strengths lie in his sound positioning, puck tracking, edgework on his skates and his ability to remain calm under pressure. He's also show strong mental toughness in bouncing back from a bad game or a goal he felt was stoppable. He is still working to improve his puckhandling; arguably the weakest area of his game at this early stage of his professional career.
FIVE KEY FACTS
1) Hart's current overall home statistics, 20-3-2, 1.63 GAA, .943 SV%) rank among the top three single seasons in Flyers franchise (minimum 15 home games played), and his home save percentage is the best in team history for one season. The top two overall statistical seasons are Bernie Parent's 1973-74 season (27-6-2, 1.40 GAA, .938 SV%) and Roman Cechmanek's 2002-03 home performance (14-8-6, 1.59 GAA, .934 SV%).
2) On a leaguewide basis this season, Hart is tied for 9th in wins (24), eighth in goals against average (2.41) and tied for 21st in save percentage (.914). From January 8 through the league pause on March 12, Hart went 10-3-0 with a 2.09 goals against average and .929 save percentage; tied for 3rd in wins, 5th in goals against average, and 7th in save percentage.
3) Hart was the NHL's youngest goaltender last season and the second youngest in Flyers franchise history to appear in a game (youngest to win a game). Over the past five seasons, an average of 22 goalies under the age of 25 per season have played at least one game in the NHL. On a leaguewide basis the average age of NHL debut among goaltenders is roughly age 24.
4) Including his first NHL shutout (Oct. 9 vs. New Jersey), Hart has had 17 starts this season in which he has allowed no more than one goal. He made a season-high 40 saves in a 4-1 home win over Anaheim on Dec.17.
5) At the time of the NHL pause, Hart was 10-2-0 over his last 12 starts with a 2.17 goals against average and .926 save percentage.
TOP 3 HIGHLIGHTS
Video: NJD@PHI: Hart shuts down Hall's heavy one-timer
1. Oct. 9, 2019 vs NJ (17:59 2nd pd): With the Flyers clinging to a 1-0 lead late in the second period, they found themselves down on a 5-on-3 penalty kill with both Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes in the penalty box. Hart came up with a 10-bell glove save on former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall to keep the Flyers ahead. He went on to record his first career NHL shutout.

2. Nov. 10, 2019 @ BOS: Over the final 4:56 of regulation, overtime and a shootout, Hart stole a victory for a Flyers team (playing for the fourth times in six nights) that ran out of gas in the third period against a powerhouse Bruins team. Late in regulation, Hart had stop a penalty shot attempt from the NHL's leading goal scorer this season, David Pastrnak. Subsequently, in a shootout, Hart stopped Charlie Coyle, Brad Marchand and Pastrnak again to nail down a 3-2 victory.

3. Dec. 11, 2019 @ COL: On a 2-on-1 rush involving two of the NHL's most dangerous forwards, Nathan MacKinnon fed a saucer pass across to linemate Mikko Rantanen. Moving rapidly across his crease, Hart stuck out his glove and came up with one of the most spectacular saves made leaguewide all season. Unfortunately, the Flyers lost the hard-fought game 3-1.
   THEY SAID IT
   This is the first [goalie] I've seen grow before my eyes and I'm really enjoying it. I can't say if he'll get to that [Roberto Luongo or Henrik Lundqvist at the height of their prime] level. You're talking about two Hall of Famers there. But I can say that what I've seen so far, the attitude, the time he puts in to be the best, and the quality of the kid. He's a good kid. If I was a betting man, I'd bet on him."
   -- Alain Vigneault, Jan. 11, 2020
   HE SAID IT
   "It's kind of crazy to be in the NHL for a year. It's gone by fast. ...I remember when they told me to get a place to live. It was on Valentine's Day [2019], I'm pretty sure. That was a pretty cool moment for me. It's was kind of like, 'Alright, you're here to stay.' Now I'm comfortable here, this is my home away from home. I love playing here and living here."
   -- Carter Hart, Dec. 18, 2019.