Flyers goalie Carter Hart to take indefinite leave of absence
Hart was granted an indefinite leave of absence citing personal reasons, according to the Flyers. In a corresponding move, the Flyers recalled Cal Petersen and moved Owen Tippett to injured reserve.
Flyers goalie Carter Hart has “requested and been granted an indefinite leave of absence citing personal reasons,” according to a team release on Tuesday.
The organization added on behalf of general manager Danny Brière that it would have no further comment at this time. The announcement came after Hart was absent for the Flyers’ morning skate in Voorhees ahead of the team’s game Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Wells Fargo Center. Before morning skate, coach John Tortorella announced that Sam Ersson would make his second straight start. When asked if Hart was healthy, as the team had consistently been rotating goalies each game, Tortorella responded, “Yep.”
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Hart missed some time with a back injury and food poisoning in early November and an undisclosed illness in December. The 25-year-old goalie is in his sixth season with the Flyers and has posted a 12-9-3 record this season with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. He is four wins shy of 100 for his career with a 96-93-29 record and a .906 save percentage in 227 games for the Flyers.
Veteran Cal Petersen was recalled from Lehigh Valley and will serve as Ersson’s backup for the time being. Petersen has posted a 5-8-2 record and a .890 save percentage with the Phantoms, and went 1-1-0 with a .896 save percentage earlier this season in a brief stint with the Flyers.
In a corresponding move, the Flyers placed forward Owen Tippett on injured reserve. Tippett sustained a lower-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday and was previously listed as “day-to-day.” Placing Tippett on IR rules him out through the All-Star break, which means in addition to missing Tuesday’s game against Tampa, he will also be ineligible to play Thursday at Detroit and Saturday vs. Boston.
Even before Tuesday’s announcement, Brière was scheduled to talk with the media for his midseason availability on Wednesday in Voorhees.