Golden Knights Make Goalie Decision Before Mammoth Game

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Golden Knights Make Goalie Decision Before Mammoth Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 19, 2026 2:40 PM ET

The Vegas Golden Knights enter the Stanley Cup playoffs coming off a late-season push that secured their place atop the Pacific Division with 95 points and a 39-26-17 record.

Vegas closed the regular season on an impressive 7-0-1 run under head coach John Tortorella, finding consistency at the right time and heading into the playoffs.

Goaltending has been a storyline in Vegas all year long following the arrival of Carter Hart after his reinduction by the NHL and a steady rotation featuring as many as four goalies throughout the campaign.

That approach continued right into the final days of the regular season, with Tortorella indicating that all available goaltenders would keep playing before a decision was made.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) looks on during a stoppage in play.Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

“I have no plan on how to attack it,” Tortorella said about his three-man rotation. “I plan on who the goalie is going to be the next game. That’s as far as I go.”

The speculation ended on Sunday morning, when Tortorella finally made his pick for who would start in net for Game 1.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Danny Webster, Carter Hart made a strong case to take over the net following his recent stretch of play, and has thus earned the job.

Carter Hart will start for the Golden Knights in Game 1 against Utah.

ICYMI, how Hart strengthened his case since returning from injury to become the playoff starter:https://t.co/nMICYwKzf9
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) April 19, 2026

Hart, who missed three months with a lower-body injury, has posted a .928 save percentage with a 1.74 goals-against average since March 30 and finished the season with an 11-3-3 record, an .891 SV% and a 2.71 GAA.

During his most recent outing on Wednesday, Hart saved 22 of 23 shots in a 4-1 overtime win against the Seattle Kraken.

Game 1 of the series between the Golden Knights and the Utah Mammoth is scheduled for Sunday, with puck drop set for 10 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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