Carter Hart, the Vegas Golden Knights’ goaltender, is sidelined week to week due to a lower-body injury, coach Bruce Cassidy announced on Saturday. The injury occurred during the first period of Thursday night’s 5-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. With Hart out, the team turns to its depth options ahead of the home game against St. Louis.
Akira Schmid will start in net against the Blues. The Golden Knights also recalled Carl Lindbom from their AHL affiliate in Henderson, Nevada, bolstering their goaltending roster amid multiple injuries.
Injury details and immediate impact
Hart left the game early against Columbus, forcing the team to manage without their recent starter. Cassidy provided the update after the morning skate, confirming Hart’s week-to-week status. This comes at a challenging time, as Vegas now lacks its top two goalies.
The victory over Columbus highlighted the team’s resilience, but the injury raises concerns for upcoming games. Schmid stepped in effectively last season and has continued that form this year with a 2.51 goals-against average and .895 save percentage in 12-4-5 record.
Lindbom’s call-up adds familiarity. He has made seven starts for Vegas this season, posting a 1-4-2 record with a 3.14 GAA and .870 save percentage. In Henderson, he’s thriving at 6-3-3 with a 2.08 GAA and .926 save percentage.
Cassidy praised both backups. “Akira has done a really good job for us,” he said. “We liked what he did last year, so we were hoping that would translate into what he did this year and have some success, and it has.”
Lindbom’s first NHL stint was tough but educational. “With Carl, there was unknown with his first call-up and got thrown in a tough spot,” Cassidy noted. “He got a taste of NHL shooters… He got a win and went back to Henderson and probably felt good about the win and has played well there.”
The injury disrupts Vegas’s plans after focusing on Hart following Adin Hill’s earlier absence.
Goaltending depth chart under pressure
Vegas faces a goaltending crunch with both Hart and Hill sidelined. Hill, who led the Knights to the Stanley Cup three years ago, has been practicing but remains limited. His season stats: 1-0-2, 2.73 GAA, .888 save percentage in five games before his lower-body injury.
Cassidy expects clarity on Hill by Tuesday. This leaves Schmid as the immediate starter and Lindbom as the backup, both with recent NHL experience.
Here’s a quick look at the current goalie stats:
- Akira Schmid: 12-4-5, 2.51 GAA, .895 SV%
- Carl Lindbom (NHL): 1-4-2, 3.14 GAA, .870 SV%
- Carl Lindbom (AHL): 6-3-3, 2.08 GAA, .926 SV%
- Adin Hill: 1-0-2, 2.73 GAA, .888 SV%
- Carter Hart (pre-injury): 5-3-3, 3.28 GAA, .871 SV%
The team signed Hart in October on a two-year, $4 million deal, as detailed in our coverage of the Vegas Golden Knights sign Carter Hart to a two-year contract. His first game back was Dec. 2, a 4-3 win over Chicago after nearly two years away.
This depth will be tested starting with St. Louis.
Hart’s journey back to the NHL
Hart’s return marks a significant story. Cleared by the NHL alongside four other 2018 Canada world juniors players after acquittal in July, he was the first to sign a contract. League rules allowed deals from Oct. 15 and play from Dec. 1.
His pre-injury performance showed rust but promise. The 5-3-3 record reflected adjustment challenges post-hiatus.
Earlier, Hart was on a PTO converted to a full contract, assigned to Henderson initially, as we discussed in Carter Hart PTO to two-year contract with Vegas Golden Knights.
Vegas targeted him after Hill’s injury to stabilize the crease.
Fan sentiment on X reflects concern but optimism, with posts noting Lindbom’s recall signals Hart’s extended absence while Hill works back.
What lies ahead for the Golden Knights
The Knights must navigate this stretch without Hart. Schmid’s consistency offers hope, backed by Lindbom’s AHL success.
Hill’s potential return Tuesday could ease pressure. His Cup-winning pedigree remains vital.
For more on Hart’s profile, check his ESPN player page.
Vegas’s resilience shone against Columbus. This injury tests depth, but Cassidy’s confidence in Schmid and Lindbom suggests stability.
The Pacific Division race intensifies. Strong goaltending will determine playoff positioning—what happens next could define their season.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.