LAS VEGAS (AP) — Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart was activated off injured reserve and started Vegas' game Thursday night against the Calgary Flames.
Hart has been out since injuring his left leg Jan. 8 against Columbus.
John Tortorella, in his second game since replacing Bruce Cassidy, coached Hart in Philadelphia in from 2022-24.
“Carter and I have a really good relationship,” Tortorella said. "He's becoming a really good pro. I love the kid. We've had a lot of conversations. I think he's handled himself so well through some pretty hard times the past couple of years.
“I think he's a good kid. People have made judgments on him. People are still making judgments on him.”
Vegas signed Hart in October and he made his first appearance Dec. 2 in a 4-3 victory over Chicago. It was his first NHL appearance in nearly two years.
Hart was one of five 2018 Canada world junior hockey players acquitted of sexual assault in July. He was the first of those five agree to an NHL contract. The league ruled those players were eligible to sign deals beginning Oct. 15 and to play starting Dec. 1. Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract.
With Hart back in the lineup, the Golden Knights have three goalies. Adin Hill has been operating as the starter, and Akira Schmid also is on the roster.
“I have no plan on how to attack it,” Tortorella said. “I have a plan on who the goalie's going to be the next game.”
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven scored two goals in the first nine minutes, and the Carolina Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth for the eighth season in a row by beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1 on Thursday night.
Alexander Nikishin added a first-period short-handed goal and Jordan Martinook and Andrei Svechnikov also scored as the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes were on the way to winning for the third time in their last four games. Taylor Hall and Sebastian Aho each had two assists and Frederik Andersen made nine saves.
For Carolina, the 10 shots allowed matched the fewest shots against in franchise history.
The Hurricanes have qualified for the playoffs in each season under coach Rod Brind’Amour, a former team captain.
Denton Mateychuk scored for the Blue Jackets, who are winless in their last five games (0-4-1). Elvis Merzlikins stopped 16 shots.
In the third meeting between the teams in less than 2½ weeks, Stankoven scored 2:27 into the game on a deflection in front of Merzlikins on Carolina’s first shot of the game. Stankoven's 17th goal of the season – adding to his career-high total – came at 8:52 when he tapped in a loose puck in the crease.
Nikishin became the franchise’s first rookie defenseman to score a short-handed goal.
By the end of the first period, Carolina had more goals (3) than the Blue Jackets had shots (2).
Mateychuk got Columbus on the board with 8:36 left in the second, but 13 seconds later Martinook scored by sending the puck on net from just inside the blue line.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal played in his 1,400th career game.
Stankoven had one goal when Carolina won 5-2 on Tuesday night at Columbus.
Blue Jackets: Home Saturday vs. Winnipeg
Hurricanes: Home Saturday vs. New York Islanders
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake (53) tries to control the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) watches the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates his goal with teammates as Columbus Blue Jackets' Sean Monahan (23) skates by during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
