Flyers Carter Hart Hoping the NHL Season can be Completed

Flyers goalie Carter Hart is no different than anybody else, disappointed that the coronavirus has gripped the world, but grateful to all those who have helped the sick during these trying times.

For the Flyers, the NHL’s stoppage came when they were the hottest team and one considered a viable Stanley Cup contender.

 

Before the league suspended action on March 12, The Flyers had won nine of their previous 10 games. If the NHL does resume and goes right into the playoffs, the Flyers would be a No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and meet their state rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.

 

The 21-year-old Hart, among the brightest young goaltenders in the NHL, is back home in the Edmonton area in Sherwood Park.

 

He spoke to reporters last week by conference call and like everybody else, is adhering to the rules of social distancing.

 

“It’s kind of the same thing here, in lockdown,” he said. “Can’t really do much. I have a bike in the basement, some free weights and all my bags that I have to use.”

 

Hart says the Flyers strength coach is sending the players programs to do.

 

Not surprisingly, he has been off the ice.

 

“There’s no ice anywhere so I can’t really skate,” he said. “Just have to maintain our fitness levels off the ice.”

 

Had the stoppage not occurred, the Flyers would be competing in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

 

“It (stinks) that we’re not playing hockey right now,” he said. “There are bigger things going on right now in the world, everybody is in the same boat, we all have to do our part.”

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He expressed great admiration for those who have risked their lives helping others.

 

“I know everybody that’s working on the front line, all medical workers, hospital workers, essential service workers, they are all doing great jobs stepping up for us,” he said. “We have to do our part here and stay inside. Just try to stay healthy and beat this thing, so that we can all resume to our normal everyday lives”.

 

In only his second season Hart has posted a 24-13-3 record this season with a 2.40 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.  He was playing outstanding hockey before the stoppage. In his last eight games he was 7-1 with a 2.12 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.

 

He said if the season resumes, he doesn’t know how long before it would take himself and his teammates to get into NHL shape.

 

Hart added that what makes it even more difficult is how well the Flyers were playing before the stoppage.

 

“We put ourselves in a good position there down the stretch,” he said. It definitely (stinks) that we didn’t get to finish it out. It (stinks) that we are not playing right now in the playoffs. Hopefully we get that chance here down the line once everything is back to normal. You know what, people’s safety and people’s health is a bit more important right now. That’s where the focus is at for everybody. We all just have to beat this thing.”

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