NHL starting goaltender sidelined 'indefinitely' after revealing concerning news on his health

After practicing with the team this morning, uncertainty looms over Hart's return, leading the Flyers to bring Petersen back from the AHL. Petersen is set to be the backup for Sam Ersson in the upcoming game against the Nashville Predators.

Insider Charlie O'Connor sheds light on the situation, revealing that 25-year-old Hart has been dealing with an undisclosed illness all season, causing frustration for the talented goalie.

"It has been going on for a while," shared Hart earlier this week. "I used to never get sick, and now I think I've been sick three times in the last month, so something is going on. It's good that we got to the bottom of it and figured it out. Now I can take the right steps to treat it and fix it and feel better going forward."

Although Hart didn't disclose the specific illness, he suggests progress in overcoming it.

"Just kind of something that has been going on for a little while," Hart explained. "Just kind of comes on and off periodically. Finally got to the bottom of it and taking care of it, addressing and fixing the issue. Knowing what has been going on makes sense. Now that we know, we can fix it. Feeling better today and doing the right things collectively as a group here with the medical staff to fix it and feel better."

Concerns about Hart's physical condition have surfaced, with insider Jordan Hall noting a noticeable thinning in recent weeks. Despite the challenges, when on the ice this season, Hart has impressed, securing nine wins in 17 starts with a career-best 2.42 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.