Utah Mammoth News

Vanecek will get a surprise start on Tuesday as projected starter Karel Vejmelka was a late scratch due to an upper-body injury. Vanecek was tagged with a fourth consecutive loss in his last start, allowing four goals on 23 shots in a 4-1 loss in Boston on December 16th. The 30-year-old goaltender heads into Tuesday's game with a record of 2-7-1. The Mammoth enter action at +212 on the money line.

Utah has won four of its last six (4-2-0) and will likely turn to Vejmelka to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old Vejmelka has won four of his last five starts (4-1-0) while posting a 2.60 GAA and .899 SV%. He has a 2.70 GAA and .894 SV% in 29 games this season (16-10-2). The Mammoth enters Tuesday's contest as significant +212 road underdogs against a scary Avalanche team that has yet to slow down this season, with only two regulation losses (26-2-7).

Yamamoto will take a seat on Friday in order to make way for the return of Alex Kerfoot (lower-body). Yamamoto has appeared in 26 games this season, registering four goals and five assists.

Kerfoot will finally make his season debut on Friday after suffering a lower-body injury in the pre-season. The 30-year-old forward appeared in 81 games with Utah last season, tallying 11 goals and 17 assists.

Vejmelka was excellent in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, saving 27 of 28 shots, and is quietly putting together a nice string of games. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has won three straight, posting a decent 2.75 GAA and .901 SV%. The Mammoth enters Friday's contest as -134 home favorites against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled to score, tallying just two goals in its last two games (1-1-0).

Vejmelka was excellent in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, saving 27 of 28 shots, and is quietly putting together a nice string of games. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has won three straight, posting a decent 2.75 GAA and .901 SV%. The Mammoth enters Friday's contest as -134 home favorites against a New Jersey Devils team that has struggled to score, tallying just two goals in its last two games (1-1-0).

Rooney recently made his season debut with Utah, scoring a goal, but has been reassigned to Tucson (AHL). The 32-year-old veteran of 331 NHL games has seven points (6G / 1A) in 11 games with Tucson this season.

Vejmelka will return to the crease for the Mammoth on Wednesday after getting the night off in Monday's loss to the Avalanche. The 29-year-old netminder was fortunate to come away with the victory in his last start, securing a 5-4 overtime win in Pittsburgh on Sunday despite making just 12 saves on 16 shots. Vejmelka brings a 14-9-2 record and .891 SV% into Wednesday night's matchup, where the Mammoth enter action at +105 on the money line.

Nick DeSimone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, sending Maatta to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Maatta is averaging a career-low 11:55 time-on-ice and has one assist in 19 games this season.

Olli Maatta will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings, allowing DeSimone to re-enter the lineup. The 31-year-old DeSimone is averaging 16:25 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) in 10 games this season.

Vanecek has only played once in the last two weeks, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. The 29-year-old Vanecek has been inconsistent early in his Utah tenure, but is coming off a solid 21-save performance (.955 SV%) in a 2-0 loss to the Calgary Flames. He has a 2.87 GAA and .878 SV% in nine games this season (2-6-1). The Mammoth enter Tuesday's contest as -113 road favorites against a Bruins team coming off a 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, snapping a four-game winning streak.

Vanecek has only played once in the last two weeks, but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. The 29-year-old Vanecek has been inconsistent early in his Utah tenure, but is coming off a solid 21-save performance (.955 SV%) in a 2-0 loss to the Calgary Flames. He has a 2.87 GAA and .878 SV% in nine games this season (2-6-1). The Mammoth enter Tuesday's contest as -113 road favorites against a Bruins team coming off a 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, snapping a four-game winning streak.

Utah has lost seven of its last 10 (3-7-0) and will hope Vejmelka can elevate his game on Friday, tending the twine against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.72 GAA and .893 SV% in 24 games this season (12-9-2). He has lost two of his last four, but has played well in those games, posting a 2.00 GAA and .934 SV%. The Mammoth enter Friday's contest as -176 home favorites against a Kraken team coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings, snapping a four-game losing skid.

Utah has lost seven of its last 10 (3-7-0) and will hope Vejmelka can elevate his game on Friday, tending the twine against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.72 GAA and .893 SV% in 24 games this season (12-9-2). He has lost two of his last four, but has played well in those games, posting a 2.00 GAA and .934 SV%. The Mammoth enter Friday's contest as -176 home favorites against a Kraken team coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings, snapping a four-game losing skid.

Maatta has not played since November 18th due to an upper-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Friday against the Seattle Kraken. The 31-year-old Maatta was playing sheltered minutes before his injury, clocking in a career-low 11:48 time-on-ice and scoring one assist in 16 games.

Kailer Yamamoto will draw back into Utah's lineup on Friday against the Seattle Kraken, returning Tanev to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Tanev has been a healthy scratch multiple times in the last two weeks and has struggled in his first season with Utah. He has remained an effective agitator with 69 hits this season, but is pacing for the worst offensive totals of his career, with only one point (0G / 1A) through 29 games.

Brandon Tanev will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Yamamoto to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Yamamoto has not played the previous two games for Utah. He has seven points (3G / 4A) in 22 games this season.