Fansided

5 takeaways from the Philadelphia Flyers season as it stands

By Mike Zawisza

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Capital One Arena on March 4, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Capital One Arena on March 4, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 07: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers drops to make a save against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Wells Fargo Center on November 7, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 07: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers drops to make a save against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Wells Fargo Center on November 7, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

3. Carter Hart is the real deal

Brian Elliott, Michal Neuvirth, Calvin Pickard, Anthony Stolarz, Alex Lyon, Mike McKenna and Cam Talbot. No, this isn’t a list of goalies the Flyers have suited up the past 10 or even five years. Those are seven of the eight goaltenders that started a game for the Flyers last season alone.

Luckily, number eight was Carter Hart.

For decades, the Flyers have been scouring the Earth for a legit elite starting goalie. While they’ve seen success with the likes of Brian Boucher, Martin Biron and Steve Mason, said success was short lived and unsustainable. After giving up on the young Sergei Bobrovsky in favor of Ilya Bryzgalov, the Flyers appeared doomed to suffer.

However, their prayers may have finally been answered by Carter Hart.

Last season, Hart became the lone bright spot in an otherwise maddening season. His .917 Save Percentage was far and away the best among Flyers goalies that season, and he truly looked like an established vet in net. As the 2019-20 season approached, all eyes were on the young netminder.

Despite a rough run through Western Canada early in the season, Hart has answered the bell. Showing a maturity and calmness beyond his years, Hart has been a steady force in the net this season and has even shown moments of jaw-dropping brilliance.

The Flyers and their fans have waited a long time for an heir apparent to Bernie Parent and Ron Hextall. Hockey Gods willing, it seems as though they’ve found the anointed one.

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