Tortorella's goaltending decisions criticized after Golden Knights' Finals series
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 12, 2026, 5:57 AM
Last updated Aug 12, 2026
John Tortorella's coaching decisions during the 2026 Stanley Cup Final are being scrutinized, particularly his choice to stick with goaltender Carter Hart despite poor performance. The Vegas Golden Knights lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, with Hart allowing four or more goals in each of the first five contests. Critics argue that Tortorella should have turned to backup Adin Hill, who had a strong postseason history including a previous Cup win. Despite the criticism, Tortorella's tenure saw the Knights achieve a regular season finish of 7-0-1 and a playoff run that included victories over top teams. The team's performance under Tortorella led to discussions about the potential consequences of his decisions going forward.
- •Golden Knights finished second in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
- •Carter Hart posted a 3.45 goals-against average in the Finals.
- •Tortorella faced criticism for sticking with Hart throughout the series.
- •Vegas had a strong postseason run before losing to the Hurricanes.
- •Tortorella previously faced controversy and a large fine earlier in the playoffs.
- 5:57 AMYahoo Sports — Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Final Decision Named Among NHL’s Worst
"The Vegas Golden Knights came within two victories of another Stanley Cup championship last season.One decision from that run is drawing considerably less praise.Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz included former coach John Tortorella’s playoff choices on his list of the eight worst decisions from the 2025-26 NHL season, with his handling of the goaltending situation during […] The post Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Final Decision Named Among NHL’s Worst appeared first on HEAVY.
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