"He needs to work on his game," coach Alain Vigneault said Monday. "He needs to work harder; he needs to work better. I've had a good conversation with him and Flyers goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh] about my expectations about his practice habits and him stopping the puck."
Goalie Brian Elliott started and made 29 saves Monday, with
[Alex Lyon
backing him up. Vigneault said either Elliott or Lyon will start Wednesday.
Hart is 8-9-3 with a 4.04 goals-against average and an .869 save percentage in 22 games. He's allowed at least three goals in eight consecutive starts, and in 16 of his 20 starts this season.
Hart is 2-6-0 with a 5.04 GAA and an .815 save percentage in his past 10 games. Hart's last win was 4-3 at the New York Islanders on March 18, when he made 22 saves but allowed three goals in the third period.
"Just chipping away at things right now," Hart said after that game when asked about his confidence level. "Getting back to playing my game and trusting the game that I've built. I think it's coming, it's going in the right direction. I've just got to build off it."
Hart has a .789 save percentage in three games since then.
"We were able to have Hart
of the Edmonton Oilers (by three months).
Because of Hart's age and track record, the Flyers believe his current struggles aren't indicative of what kind of future he'll have.
"You look back at a young Carey Price at the age of 22, Connor Hellebuyck, Marc-Andre Fleury, just going through some names," general manager Chuck Fletcher said March 24. "All of those great goaltenders had some ups and downs early in their career and had some tough seasons. It's a hard position. I believe in Carter. I believe in his talent, and I believe he will be a very good goalie for this franchise for a very long time. Clearly right now, he's not on top of his game."
