Flyers prospect Carter Hart registers his first pro shutout, leads Phantoms past Hershey, 1-0

Flyers prospect Carter Hart, the 20-year-old goalie who dominated the Western Hockey League the last two seasons, registered his first pro shutout Friday night, leading the Phantoms to a 1-0 AHL win over visiting Hershey.

Hart made 26 saves and he seems to be finding his groove. In his last three appearances, all wins, he has a 1.34 goals-against average and .955 save percentage.

“I’m just following the puck,” Hart said. “My body kind of goes with it, so I’m just trying to stay on top of the puck and track it down.”

In his introductory news conference Wednesday, new Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher did not rule out recalling Hart at some point this season.

Connor Bunnaman gave Hart the only goal he needed, scoring in the first period.

The Phantoms raised their record to 14-7-2.

When the Flyers play in Buffalo on Saturday afternoon, they will face backup goalie Linus Ullmark (2.71 GAA, .921 save percentage). Starter Carter Hutton (2.60, .917), who had eight victories during the Sabres' recent 10-game winning streak, is sidelined with an unspecified injury. The Sabres also have three injured defensemen. ... Buffalo is 7-0-2 in its last nine home games. ... The Flyers will be trying to avenge a 5-2 loss in Buffalo on Nov. 21, a game in which they fell into a 4-0 first-period hole. ... Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier lead the Flyers with 10 goals apiece, one more than Wayne Simmonds. ... Robert Hagg tops the Flyers with a plus-9 rating. ... The Flyers and Sabres are both scuffling. The Flyers have just two wins in their last nine games (2-5-2), and Buffalo has lost four straight (0-2-2) since its 10-game winning streak. ... Top-line RW Travis Konecny has 10 points in his last seven games.