The goaltending carousel continues for the Philadelphia Flyers. Anthony Stolarz, who left Saturday night’s game, will now be out for the next two-to-four weeks. After placing Stolarz on injured reserve Monday morning, the Flyers have called up Carter Hart from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Alex Lyon was also sent back to the minors.
The #Flyers have recalled goaltender Carter Hart from the @LVPhantoms. In addition, the club has placed goaltender Anthony Stolarz on Injured Reserve. https://t.co/P6asgsZ9Xg
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 17, 2018
Anthony Stolarz Injured, Carter Hart Called Up
Stolarz had appeared in nine straight games for the Flyers before suffering a lower-body injury in the Flyers loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. His numbers overall were not bad for a goaltender who had two knee surgeries previously. At a 7-2-3 record, Stolarz also posted a 3.90 goals-against-average and a .880 save percentage.
In 16 career NHL games, his career numbers look a bit better. Stolarz has a career 3.06 goals-against-average and a .901 save percentage. He also has one career shutout, one he posted during the 2016-17 season.
Stolarz had grabbed the reigns of the starting job after both Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth had gone down with injury. He started seven of the nine games that he appeared in. There has been no word on the specifics of his injury and what caused him to leave Saturday’s game. Playing in nine straight games may not have helped, though.
Lyon had been called up when Neuvirth had to once again leave the team, though this was to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Lyon had appeared in two games during his stint this season, starting one and coming in relief of Stolarz in the other. Along with a 0-1-0 record, Lyon has a 5.07 goals-against-average and a .806 save percentage.
Carter Hart Era Could Be Beginning
The move to send down Lyon only made it more likely that Hart could make his NHL debut while with the team. It is unlikely that Hart was called up to be the backup goaltender. The team’s next game is Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings.
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— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 17, 2018
Hart is in his first professional season with the Phantoms and was beginning to adjust to the pro game. In 17 games in the AHL, Hart has a 3.05 goals-against-average and a .901 save percentage. It was not a good start to his pro career as Hart allowed four goals on 12 shots in his second career game and six goals back on November 24th.
His numbers have been better as of late. In his last five games, Hart has a 4-1 record along with a 1.80 goals-against-average and a .939 save percentage.
“For me, tracking is a huge part of my game and I feel like I’ve really focused on that in the last couple weeks and that’s one of my strengths in my game.” Hart said recently when asked about his game.
Hart is coming into an interesting situation within the Flyers organization, with the firing of head coach Dave Hakstol coming hours after the call-up. The team will have Scott Gordon take the position of interim head coach.
Time will also tell if the Carter Hart era is set to begin in Philadelphia, starting on Tuesday night.
Main Photo by Kate Frese (@KateFresePhoto), licensed to Last Word on Hockey. The Photographer retains all rights to the photograph.
