Vitek Vanecek News

Vanecek has taken a back seat to Mackenzie Blackwood lately, starting only two of the last seven games for the Sharks, but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old Vanecek has an unspectacular 3.65 GAA and .879 SV% through six games this season (1-4-0), but was stellar in his previous outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks enter the action on Tuesday as +112 home underdogs against a Blue Jackets club off to a 5-5-1 start.

The Sharks will opt to give Mackenzie Blackwood the night off as Vanecek gets the nod in the tail-end of their back-to-back on Tuesday. Vanecek struggled his last time out, surrendering seven goals on 42 shots in a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Golden Knights. He owns an .869 SV% and has failed to record a victory in his first five appearances. He will be hard-pressed to pick up his first win of the season on Tuesday with the Sharks entering action as +260 underdogs.

Through three games this season, the Sharks have alternated between Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood between the pipes, a trend that will continue on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks when Vanecek occupies the crease. Despite a 2-0 losing effort, Vanecek was terrific in his only start this season, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) against the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks enter action on Thursday as +163 road underdogs against a Blackhawks club that has only scored nine times in their first four games (1-2-1).

Vanecek has been on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, but will likely serve in a timeshare with Mackenzie Blackwood between the pipes for the Sharks upon his return. The 28-year-old Vanecek struggled this season with the New Jersey Devils, posting a career-worst 3.18 GAA and .890 SV% in 32 games (17-9-3).

Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort in his last outing, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes but was surprisingly sidelined after with a lower-body injury. Nico Daws has started each game in Vanecek's absence and has done an admirable job filling in between the pipes.

Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws started and won both games in a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday and will start between the pipes again on Thursday.

Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws will start between the pipes on Monday night for the Devils, who will likely recall Akira Schmid from the AHL to serve as part of the Devils' tandem while Vanecek is unable to play.

Vanecek will start for the third straight game on Thursday night when the Devils host the Calgary Flames. Vanecek was terrific in his last outing, snapping a two-game losing skid by limiting the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche to only three goals on 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 5-3 victory. The Devils enter action as -137 home favourites despite the Flames carrying momentum from a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Vanecek will start for the third straight game on Thursday night when the Devils host the Calgary Flames. Vanecek was terrific in his last outing, snapping a two-game losing skid by limiting the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche to only three goals on 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 5-3 victory. The Devils enter action as -137 home favourites despite the Flames carrying momentum from a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Vanecek will start for the third time in the last four games for the Devils in a challenging matchup against the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche. The Devils have lost two straight, and Vanecek has allowed four or more goals in each of his last two starts. That said, Vanecek and the Devils will be facing off against an Avalanche club that lost a hard-fought battle last night, 2-1 versus the New York Rangers in overtime.

Vanecek will start for the third time in the last four games for the Devils in a challenging matchup against the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche. The Devils have lost two straight, and Vanecek has allowed four or more goals in each of his last two starts. That said, Vanecek and the Devils will be facing off against an Avalanche club that lost a hard-fought battle last night, 2-1 versus the New York Rangers in overtime.

Vanecek served as the backup to Nico Daws on Saturday in a one-side 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Given Vanecek's tremendous effort the previous night, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Devils will turn back to him on Monday. Vanecek has helped a struggling Devils squad record at least a point in each of his last three starts (2-0-1), posting a .907 SV% in the process. The Devils, losers of three of their last four (1-3-0), are -120 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are riding a three-game winning streak.

Vanecek served as the backup to Nico Daws on Saturday in a one-side 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Given Vanecek's tremendous effort the previous night, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Devils will likely turn back to him on Monday. Vanecek has helped a struggling Devils squad record at least a point in each of his last three starts (2-0-1), posting a .907 SV% in the process. The Devils, losers of three of their last four (1-3-0), are -120 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are riding a three-game winning streak.

With his grasp on the Devils' starting job slowly slipping away from him, Vanecek will get a shot at redemption on Friday as he will be back between the pipes for the Devils when they travel to Columbus. Nico Daws got the nod in goal in each of New Jersey's previous three games, but head coach Lindy Ruff is opting to go back to Vanecek after suffering back-to-back defeats. We last saw Vanecek on January 11th when he surrendered four goals on just 20 shots as the Devils suffered a 4-3 overtime defeat at the hands of the Lightning. Vanecek has managed to scrape together a 14-7-2 record on the season despite an .882 SV%. He's in an ideal spot to get back in the win column on Friday with the Devils being -150 favourites in Columbus.