Carter Hart’s morning ended early for the Golden Knights on Tuesday, and Vegas now has to wait for clarity.
The goaltender left the morning skate with an apparent injury after making a butterfly save during a 2-on-1 drill. He then skated off slowly, showing a noticeable limp, and the team said he is being evaluated. The Golden Knights did not offer any immediate information on the exact nature or severity of the issue.
Head coach Bruce Cassidy said there was no update beyond that.
“No update. He left morning skate.
He’s being evaluated. He’s in good hands,” the head coach said.
“We’ve got a plan here moving forward either way. We’ll be ready for tonight.”
Cassidy also said Adin Hill will get the start Tuesday night when Vegas hosts the Ottawa Senators at T-Mobile Arena.
Hart, 28, has made eight starts this season and has gone 4-3-1 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. He has turned aside 176 of 198 shots, including a 26-save effort in a 2-1 overtime win over Los Angeles. His most recent appearance came Saturday, when he made 18 saves in Vegas’ 2-1 overtime loss at Columbus.
Hill, 30, enters the night with a 4-1-0 record, a 2.95 GAA and an .882 save percentage in five starts. He was a major piece of Vegas’ run to its first Stanley Cup title in 2023, posting an 11-4 record, a 2.17 GAA, two shutouts and a playoff-best .932 save percentage.
He is coming off a rough outing Thursday in St. Louis, where he allowed six goals on 31 shots in a 6-2 loss. Even so, Hill gives the Golden Knights an experienced option while they wait for the next word on Hart.
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The morning skate on Tuesday brought an unexpected turn for the Golden Knights, who suddenly have to sort out their crease with Carter Hart leaving early because of an apparent injury. Hart had been penciled in as the starter, but his day-to-day status forced Vegas to pivot quickly as it prepared for its next game, a reminder of how fast the most stable part of a roster can become unsettled.
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