John Tortorella Backs Carter Hart as Vegas Seeks Game 6 Edge
john tortorella said Carter Hart remains the Vegas Golden Knights’ No. 1 netminder even after a postseason line that sits 16th among goaltenders with a.888 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average. Hart is expected to be in net for Game 6 on Friday, putting the pressure on him again as Vegas tries to keep the series moving.
Tortorella did not hedge. He said he has full confidence in Hart and pointed to the way the goalie handles setbacks: “I think Carter has the ability to put things away... and get ready to play the next day.” That kind of reset is the trait he values most in a position where one mistake can carry extra weight.
Tortorella and Hart
“That's who he is,” Tortorella said of Hart’s response to struggles. He added, “I think he's grown over the years,” and tied that belief to the time he has spent around the goalie: “This is... 3-1/2 years with him. I've just watched him grow.”
He also described the position in blunt terms. “It's such a unique position,” Tortorella said. “You're kind of on an island out there, in a team sport. What is the most important position in the game?” That framing leaves little room for noise around Hart’s postseason numbers.
Hart’s postseason numbers
The numbers are not matching the faith. Hart’s.888 save percentage and 3.02 goals-against average both rank 16th among postseason goalies, while Vegas has allowed 3.60 goals-against per game, the fourth-highest mark in the playoffs.
The offense has helped keep the Golden Knights afloat. Vegas ranks fourth in the postseason at 3.40 goals per game, which has helped offset the goals against and kept Hart in the spotlight as the series has tightened.
Game 6 in Friday net
Hart’s assignment for Game 6 comes after a stretch in which the Golden Knights had won their previous two games by scoring five goals in each. He was also shown making a save against the Utah Mammoth during the first overtime period of Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena.
For Vegas, the choice is already set: Hart stays in goal, and Tortorella is betting that the goalie’s habit of moving on from bad moments carries into Friday. If Hart sharpens the glove work that the series has demanded, the Knights can lean on the scoring that has kept them in position.
