Carter Hart and John Tortorella are heading into Game 6 with the Stanley Cup Final noise getting a lot uglier around Vegas.
That story moved after Hurricanes fans hit Hart with “No Means No” chants during Game 5 in Raleigh. It was one of the harshest crowd moments of this Final.
Hart did not give it much life when asked about it later. He called it “just noise” and said both buildings have been loud all series.
That answer was short, but it said plenty. Hart clearly had no interest in turning the chant into a bigger public fight before an elimination game.
The context is why it landed so hard. Hart is in his first NHL season back after he was acquitted in the high-profile Hockey Canada case, and that history has followed him all year.
It also adds another layer because Carolina was once viewed as a possible landing spot for Hart before public backlash pushed the Hurricanes away. Vegas became the team that gave him the chance instead.
Now the matchup has turned personal in a way most Finals never do. Hart is not only trying to stop pucks against Carolina. He is facing the team whose market never wanted him in the first place.
"It's just noise," said Hart. "Both atmospheres in both buildings have been really loud and its just a lot of fun to play in. Yeah it's just noise."
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Why this Carter Hart moment matters before Game 6
Because Vegas does not need more outside noise right now. The Golden Knights are already down 3-2 in the series and trying to survive without injured center William Karlsson.
That makes every storyline around the crease feel bigger. Hart is already under a hotter light than most goalies, and the chants only pushed more attention onto him.
To his credit, he did not sound rattled. Calling it noise was the cleanest answer he could give, especially with the series still alive and the cameras waiting for any bigger reaction.
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"It's just noise," said Hart. "Both atmospheres in both buildings have been really loud and its just a lot of fun to play in. Yeah it's just noise."
Tortorella will likely appreciate that. Coaches in June do not want side shows growing legs, and Hart gave Vegas a calm public line instead of fresh fuel.
Still, it would be naive to pretend moments like that mean nothing. Players hear everything in a building, especially when the crowd makes one message that direct.
That is why Game 6 gets even more interesting now. Hart has a chance to answer the entire scene the only way that really matters in the playoffs.
If he plays well and extends the series, the chant becomes background. If he struggles, it gets replayed all summer.
For Vegas, that is the pressure sitting in the crease now. Carter Hart tried to make it sound small, but the atmosphere around him heading into Game 6 feels a lot heavier than ordinary Final noise.
Will Carter Hart answer the Hurricanes crowd by forcing a Game 7?
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