EVERETT — Everett Silvertips goaltender Carter Hart logged the second-most minutes while appearing in the second-most games as a 17-year-old last season en route to being named the Western Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Year.
So it’s a rare occurrence not to see the Sherwood Park, Alberta, native in the crease for the Tips.
However, Hart struggled during last week’s road trip to Spokane and Kelowna. He allowed a pair of first-period goals in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Chiefs, then was pulled just 7:49 into Wednesday’s game against the Rockets after allowing two goals on Kelowna’s first five shots.
“It was two nights in a row that the first few scoring chances went in,” said Everett head coach Kevin Constantine, himself a former goaltender. “He didn’t get pulled out of Spokane even though the first chances went in. But it was the fact that it happened in back-to-back nights that we felt he wasn’t playing to his capabilities.”
Mario Petit replaced Hart in Kelowna and saved 20 of the 22 shots he faced as the Tips came back to force overtime and left with a point in the standings after falling 4-3 in the extra session. It was the first time this year Petit has replaced Hart in the middle of a game.
“Obviously it’s not what I wanted to get done up there, but it’s just one game,” Hart said. “You’ve got to forget about it and worry about the next one.”
Hart was back in net Saturday as the Tips played at Victoria against a team that had scored 18 goals in its previous two games. Hart recorded 37 saves on 38 shots as the Tips defeated the defending Scotty Munro Trophy champion Royals 3-1 for their first victory over Victoria since the 2014-15 season.
“His response was fantastic,” Constantine said. “He responded with his best game of the year. That’s what a good athlete does. I give him credit for how he responded. I thought it was very, very good …(It was) a very professional response to getting pulled out of a game. That’s the best way to put it.”
Victoria’s lone goal came on a second-period power play. Hart, who recently signed his first pro deal with Philadelphia after the Flyers took him in the second round of this year’s NHL draft, was at his best during the final period when the Royals fired off 20 shots en route to a 38-13 shot advantage for the game.
“I don’t know if he can play that good every night, but that’s his capabilities,” Constantine said. “He stole the game for us on his own. We had a good start, but they bombed us in the third period and he won the game. It’s not fair to expect someone to be A-plus every night, but what he did against (Victoria), he’s capable of doing that.”
Hart continues to lead the league in goals-against average at 2.08 and his 37-save effort bumped him back up to ninth in percentage at .919. That is also sixth among goalies who have played at least seven games. Hart is also tied for fourth in wins with six as Everett (9-2-2-0, 20 points) begins a four-game homestand Thursday with a three-point lead over Tri-City atop the U.S. Division standings.
“Really focusing on what I can control,” Hart said of his reaction to last week. “After that game it’s over and done with. You can’t change it. It’s in the past. You just have to worry about the present moment and about what you can do in the present moment to get better and get yourself more prepared for that next opportunity. I think really just refreshing and refocusing and getting back to your details.”
The Tips play host to Tri-City at 7:05 p.m. in a rare Thursday game at Xfinity Arena. The four-game homestand continues with a 7:05 p.m. game Saturday at home against Victoria.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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