The Vegas Golden Knights will be without goalie Carter Hart for an extended period after he sustained a lower-body injury during Thursday’s game against Columbus.
Coach Bruce Cassidy announced Hart is week to week with the injury, which occurred in the first period of the team’s 5-3 victory over the Blue Jackets.
Akira Schmid will start against St. Louis. The 25-year-old has posted a 12-4-5 record this season with a 2.51 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.
Vegas recalled Carl Lindbom from its AHL affiliate in Henderson to serve as backup. Lindbom has made seven appearances for the Golden Knights this season, going 1-4-2 with a 3.14 GAA and .870 save percentage.
“Akira has done a really good job for us,” Cassidy said. “We liked what he did last year, so we were hoping that would translate into what he did this year and have some success, and it has.”
The coach praised Lindbom’s development since his initial call-up earlier this season.
“With Carl, there was unknown with his first call-up and got thrown in a tough spot. He got a taste of NHL shooters, the difference probably between the NHL and the American League. He got a win and went back to Henderson and probably felt good about the win and has played well there.”
Lindbom has been solid in the minors, posting a 6-3-3 record with a 2.08 GAA and .926 save percentage in Henderson.
The injury leaves Vegas without its top two goalies. Adin Hill remains sidelined with his own lower-body injury but has returned to practice.
Hill has appeared in just five games this season, recording a 1-0-2 record with a 2.73 GAA and .888 save percentage. Cassidy said he’ll have a better assessment Tuesday on whether the goalie who led the team’s Stanley Cup run three years ago is ready to return.
Hart was brought in specifically to address the team’s goaltending depth after Hill’s injury. The 26-year-old had posted a 5-3-3 record with a 3.28 GAA and .871 save percentage before getting hurt.
Vegas signed Hart in October following his legal clearance. He made his Golden Knights debut on Dec. 2 in a 4-3 win over Chicago – his first NHL appearance in nearly two years.
Hart was among five former 2018 Canada world junior players acquitted of sexual assault charges in July. He became the first of the group to sign an NHL contract after the league cleared the players to sign beginning Oct. 15 and play starting Dec. 1.
Hart signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the Golden Knights.
