It has not been an easy road back for Vegas Golden Knights’ goalie Carter Hart. Earlier this month, he played his first NHL game since 2023. He made 27 saves in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. For a player who had been away from the league for so long due to legal complications, it was a strong performance.

Notably, Hart, along with four other players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior team, had been involved in a sexual assault case before being acquitted in July. A judge ruled there was not enough evidence to convict the group, and once the case closed, Hart regained eligibility to sign NHL contracts. He joined the Golden Knights on a two-year deal in October.

But two days after his strong return, Hart got ruled out with a lower-body injury for the matchup against the Devils.

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