Carter Hart set to make Golden Knights debut vs. Blackhawks

Goaltender Carter Hart will make his controversial return to the NHL for the first time in 22 months on Tuesday when the Vegas Golden Knights host the Chicago Blackhawks.

Now the question is, will he start or back up Akira Schmid?

Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said he wouldn't announce his starter until Tuesday morning but "I'm sure you'll see a lot of both goalies" in the near future, which includes a five-game road trip that begins Friday at New Jersey.

The 27-year-old Hart, a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2016, was one of five players found not guilty of sexual assault charges in July in London, Ontario. The players -- all members of Canada's World Junior Championship gold medal-winning team -- were accused of assaulting a woman in a hotel room after a Hockey Canada gala.

The NHL suspended all five players after determining their conduct did not meet "the highest level of moral integrity" expected by the league.

Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract with Vegas on Oct. 24 and has been practicing with the nearby AHL Henderson Silver Knights. He appeared in three AHL games and posted a 3.07 goals-against average and .839 save percentage.

"I've worked my (butt) off to get to this point, and for me the key is preparation," Hart told reporters after practice on Monday. "I've been doing everything I can to be prepared, and I'll be prepared if I get the call tomorrow."

Hart compiled a 96-93-29 record, 2.94 goals-against, and .906 save percentage in 227 games with the Flyers before the league-mandated suspension, which was lifted on Monday. His last NHL start came on Jan. 20, 2024, in a 7-4 loss to Colorado. He was pulled after two periods after yielding five goals on 15 shots.

Hart is expected to give a boost to a shaky goaltending situation for the Golden Knights, who lost starter Adin Hill to a lower-body injury on Oct. 20. Vegas was 5-0-2 at the time of Hill's injury but has gone just 6-6-6 since and ranks just 15th in goals-against (2.96). Vegas has also struggled badly in overtime contests, compiling a league-worst 1-8 record.

"Akira (9-2-4, 0.896 save percentage) has played well too," Cassidy said. "I'm sure you'll see a lot of both goalies, but Carter has waited a long time to play, so he's definitely going to get his share of starts."

Chicago, which snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over Pacific Division co-leader Anaheim on Sunday, will be playing the first game of a four-game western road trip that includes back-to-back games with the Los Angeles Kings and a rematch with the Ducks on Sunday.

Connor Bedard scored two goals, including the game-winner midway through the third period, and had two assists in the comeback win against Anaheim. The Blackhawks trailed 3-0 midway through the first period but rallied with five consecutive goals, the final one an empty-netter by Bedard with 1:55 remaining.

"That's not an acceptable start," Bedard, who entered Monday night tied for second in the NHL with 37 points, said. "I think everyone took it upon themselves to up their game a little bit more. That's a game we needed, five games straight without being able to pick up a win. I think we all took the initiative there after the first and stepped it up."

Vegas is 15-3-3 all-time against the Blackhawks, including 8-2-1 at T-Mobile Arena.

--Field Level Media