Are 2020 NHL Playoffs Time To Let Carter Hart Earn His Stripes?

Heading into the 2020 NHL Playoffs, the Flyers will be one of the top four seeds thanks to a 12-3-0 record in their last 15 games before the NHL suspended their season.  The NHL is now transitioning to Phase 2 as teams prepare for the 24-Team Postseason and the Flyers will be allowed to have players participate in voluntary small group practices to get their conditioning up to speed for a return to play.  One of the biggest questions with the Flyers ahead of the 2020 Postseason is in-between the pipes: Carter Hart will be the 11th Goaltender to start for the Flyers in the playoffs over the last ten years.  The previous Flyers Goalies have a combined postseason record of 16-25 with a combined 3.26 Goals Against Average.  Since the 2020 NHL Playoffs will be at a neutral site with no fans in attendance, its hard to gauge what version of Carter Hart will in-between the pipes this summer: At home Carter Hart had a 20-3-2 record with a 1.63 GAA but away from home but on the road, Hard has a 4-10-1 record with a 3.81 GAA.

SiriusXM NHL Radio Host Scott Laughlin joined Josh Hennig on Friday and gave his perspective on Carter Hart as the number one Goaltender heading into the 2020 NHL Playoffs:

"The present for Philadelphia is Carter Hart, the future is Carter Hart, I would give him ample opportunity at home or on the road (moving forward); In this case (2020 NHL Playoffs) is going to be at a neutral site hub so you don't have worry much about it from that standpoint - You got to let (Carter Hart) get his feet wet here in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he done it internationally at the World Juniors, he had done it in the Western Hockey League Playoffs, it's now time to let the kid go and let him earn his stripes in the (NHL) Playoffs.  At the most important time of the season, I think he is fully capable of handling that responsibility."

Checkout what Laughlin had to say about Brian Elliott backing up Carter Hart, perspective on Alain Vigneault, the Flyers future, 2020 NHL Playoffs, and more