Welcome to the mess, Carter Hart:

Anthony Stolarz is out 2-4 weeks with a lower body injury, because of course he is. Alex Lyon was loaned to Lehigh Valley, so it looks like Hart and Michael Neuvirth are the active goaltenders for tomorrow.

I imagine this news will deflect from the maybe-not-impending-but-ultimately-inevitable firing of Dave Hakstol. The Flyers return home to play the Red Wings tomorrow night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Here’s what Russ says about the move, since I know very little about ice hockey:

“Carter Hart is only 20 years old. Former GM Ron Hextall, current GM Chuck Fletcher, and team president Paul Holmgren have all intimated that it’s likely too early to bring up a kid with minimal pro experience this early in his career, but here we are. The team obviously has no faith in Neuvy’s ability in net or his ability to stay healthy. Alex Lyon hasn’t established himself in the few opportunities he’s been given. Brian Elliott might very well be having season-ending surgery. Anthony Stolarz is on IR. In a way, Hextall’s failure to acquire a legitimate goalie forced his successor’s hand.

I don’t think Hart’s ready, and bringing him into this toxic environment could have catastrophic ramifications. Add in the struggles of most defensemen, and a group of forwards with a propensity to cheat for a breakaway rather than get back to check in the defensive zone, and this is a recipe for failure. On a positive note, Hart posted his first professional shutout in a 1-0 win over Hershey on December 7th. He is on a four-game winning streak (1.25 GAA, .957 save percentage) and has a 9-4-2 record as the starter. We’ll have to see if he can transcend this team’s woeful start.”