Carter Hart Gets the Nod as Golden Knights Set Game 1 Goaltender
The Vegas Golden Knights have made their playoff goaltending call, and Carter Hart will start Game 1 against the Utah Mammoth on Sunday at 10 p. m. ET. The decision comes after a late-season push that helped Vegas finish atop the Pacific Division with 95 points and a 39-26-17 record. It also ends the final stretch of uncertainty around Carter Hart, whose play down the stretch strengthened his case for the opener.
Hart earns the opening-night job
John Tortorella said late in the regular season that he had no long-range plan for the crease, only a game-by-game approach as the Golden Knights evaluated their options. That approach carried through the final days before the playoffs, with all available goaltenders continuing to play until a decision was made. On Sunday morning, the choice was finalized: Carter Hart will start for Game 1.
The call follows a strong recent run for Carter Hart. He missed three months with a lower-body injury, then returned to post a. 928 save percentage and a 1. 74 goals-against average since March 30. He finished the season at 11-3-3 with an. 891 save percentage and a 2. 71 goals-against average, numbers that helped push him into the starting role.
Late-season momentum shaped the decision
Vegas heads into the postseason on a 7-0-1 run, a finish that gave the club confidence after a season that featured a steady rotation in net. Goaltending remained a central storyline for the Golden Knights all year, especially after Carter Hart arrived following his reinduction by the NHL and as the team used as many as four goalies across the campaign.
His most recent outing only added to that momentum. On Wednesday, Carter Hart stopped 22 of 23 shots in a 4-1 overtime win against the Seattle Kraken. That performance came just before the postseason opener and gave the Golden Knights one more reason to stay with the hot hand.
What the choice means for Vegas
The opening matchup with Utah now puts the spotlight squarely on the crease as Vegas tries to turn a strong finish into an early series lead. The Golden Knights are entering the playoffs with consistency at the right time, and the goaltending decision gives the team a clear first-game answer after months of rotation and evaluation.
For Carter Hart, the start is both a reward and a test. The postseason opens with the pressure of Game 1, but the numbers from his recent stretch and his latest outing show why the Golden Knights are moving forward with him in net. All eyes now turn to Sunday night, when Carter Hart gets the chance to carry that late-season form into the playoffs.
