LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Carter Hart Nears Golden Knights Debut After Suspension, Stellar HSK Reps
Carter Hart’s long-awaited first appearance with the Vegas Golden Knights could arrive as soon as December 2. After serving his league suspension and logging three strong starts with the Henderson Silver Knights, Hart appears poised and ready to return to NHL action. But as always, the final word belongs to Bruce Cassidy.
The Golden Knights head coach said he’ll make his decision on Tuesday, noting that Hart has looked increasingly comfortable in practice and sharp during his time with HSK. Those three AHL starts weren’t just tune-ups—they were an audition. And by all accounts, Hart passed. His movement was clean, his timing sound, and his composure unmistakably back in form.
For Vegas, Hart’s potential debut comes at an ideal moment. The goaltending rotation has weathered injuries and inconsistencies, and adding a confident, game-ready netminder strengthens one of Cassidy’s most critical positions. Hart, once considered one of the NHL’s top young goalies, now gets a fresh start on a team built around structure, discipline, and stingy defense.
His impending return also injects intrigue into the Golden Knights’ crease. A strong showing from Hart could alter the goaltending hierarchy, or at the very least, create the type of internal competition that keeps both goalies performing at a high level.
Whether Cassidy gives him the nod on Tuesday or opts to wait, one thing is clear: Carter Hart is ready. His suspension is behind him, his conditioning games are complete, and his confidence is rising. Now the Golden Knights—and their fans—wait to see if December 2 becomes the day Hart officially begins his Vegas chapter.
The Mountain West announced on Sunday that Boise State will host UNLV in the conference championship game on Friday, making this the third straight season the Broncos and Rebels will meet for the title.
Boise State, New Mexico, San Diego State and UNLV all finished with 6-2 records in conference play. Because all four teams did not meet this season, the tie was broken by a composite average of nationally recognized metrics: Connelly SP+, ESPN SOR, KPI and SportSource rankings.
UNLV and Boise State had the two best composite average scores. With the two participants determined, the tiebreaker reverted to head-to-head to determine the host. The Broncos earned the right to host because of their 56-31 win over the Rebels on Oct. 18.
San Diego State finished third in the metrics followed by New Mexico.
UNLV will be appearing in its third Mountain West championship game and is seeking its first title. Boise State will be playing in the championship game for the fourth straight season and is seeking its third straight title. The Broncos are in the title game for the ninth time overall and are looking for their sixth championship.
Under first-year head coach Dan Mullen, UNLV beat rival Nevada 42-17 on Saturday to move to 10-2 overall this season, reaching the 10-win plateau for the fourth time in program history and in consecutive years for the first time. The Rebels have won four straight games.
Boise State won its final two regular-season games to move to 8-4 overall. The Broncos, who have played without starting quarterback Maddux Madsen since an injury in a loss to Fresno State on Nov. 1, rallied for a 25-24 win at Utah State on Friday to move into the tie atop the league standings.