PHILADELPHIA — It’s safe to say some serious planning went into ex-Flyer goaltender Carter Hart’s unavailability for Thursday night’s game in Philly.

Hart, who joined the Golden Knights earlier this month after he was cleared to play by the NHL following a not guilty verdict in a 2024 sexual assault trial, started games in New York, at the Rangers and Islanders.

Coach Bruce Cassidy opted not to use Hart against the Flyers. The goaltender was not made available for comment. Had Hart been cleared to speak, it might have been a distraction for the rest of the Golden Knights.

“Carter wants to play every game. He’s a very competitive guy,” Cassidy said. “We discussed coming out, you’d play two out of three this week, and coming out of the Ranger game, he wanted to get right back in the net.

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