Utah Mammoth News

Vanecek was excellent in relief of Karel Vejmelka on Tuesday, saving all 10 shots he faced, but the game was already out of reach for Utah, losing 5-2 to the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old Vanecek has played well lately, posting an impressive 1.86 GAA and .923 SV% in five appearances (2-1-1) since the beginning of March. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as -137 home favourites against Vejmelka's former team, the Washington Capitals, who have only scored four combined goals in their last three games (1-1-1).

Yamamoto is one of two lineup changes for the Mammoth on Thursday, as Barrett Hayton was already ruled out with an upper-body injury. Brandon Tanev and Daniil But will draw into the lineup.

Tanev has only played once in the last four weeks, but he will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old Tanev is averaging 9:22 time-on-ice and has just two assists in 46 games this season.

Hayton was limited to only 17 seconds of time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. The recently recalled Danil But is expected to fill in as Hayton's replacement. The 25-year-old Hayton has 25 points (10G / 15A) in 67 games this season.

With Barrett Hayton (upper body) out of the lineup, But will draw back in for the first time since late January. But had a prolonged stint with Utah earlier this season, making his NHL debut and scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in 28 games. That said, the 21-year-old 12th overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has spent most of the season in the AHL, where he has 33 points (16G / 17A) in 34 games with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL).

Vanecek was excellent in relief of Karel Vejmelka on Tuesday, saving all 10 shots he faced, but the game was already out of reach for Utah, losing 5-2 to the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old Vanecek has played well lately, posting an impressive 1.86 GAA and .923 SV% in five appearances (2-1-1) since the beginning of March. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as -137 home favourites against Vejmelka's former team, the Washington Capitals, who have only scored four combined goals in their last three games (1-1-1).

Hayton was limited to only 17 seconds of time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. Utah recalled Daniil But from Tucson (AHL), indicating that Hayton could miss some time. The 25-year-old Hayton has 25 points (10G / 15A) in 67 games this season.

But had a prolonged stint with Utah earlier this season, making his NHL debut and scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in 28 games. That said, the 21-year-old 12th overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has spent most of the season in the AHL, where he has 33 points (16G / 17A) in 34 games with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL).

Utah added to their goaltending depth on Wednesday, signing Hrabal to a three-year, entry-level contract. The 21-year-old Czech goalie, the 38th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, had an excellent 1.95 GAA and .937 SV% in 29 games (19-9-1) playing collegiate hockey this season with UMass-Amherst.

Vejmelka let in a weak goal in the third period of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Kings to send the game to overtime, but recovered and salvaged a 4-3 victory, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%). The 29-year-old Vejmelka is riding a two-game winning streak, boasting an impressive 1.47 GAA and .953 SV%. He will look to continue his stellar play on Tuesday, with Utah entering the action as -125 home favourites against an Edmonton Oilers team that has been outscored 9-2 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Vejmelka let in a weak goal in the third period of Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Kings to send the game to overtime, but recovered and salvaged a 4-3 victory, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%). The 29-year-old Vejmelka is riding a two-game winning streak, boasting an impressive 1.47 GAA and .953 SV%. He will look to continue his stellar play on Tuesday, with Utah entering the action as -125 home favourites against an Edmonton Oilers team that has been outscored 9-2 in their last two games (0-2-0).

Desnoyers has been excellent in his third season in the QMJHL, scoring 78 points (22G / 56A) through 45 games. The 18-year-old forward was Utah's fourth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Stenlund missed Monday's game against the Dallas Stars, but was back in the lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, he continues battling an undisclosed injury, making his status uncertain for Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. The 29-year-old Stenlund has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 67 games this season.

Comments from Mammoth head coach André Tourigny seemed to suggest the team was leaning towards starting Karel Vejmelka on back-to-back nights, but Utah will ultimately go the conventional route and give Vanecek the nod on Friday. Vanecek secured the victory in his last start, stopping 27 of the 30 shots he faced in an impressive 6-3 win in Dallas on Monday. The 30-year-old netminder carries a 5-9-3 record and an .889 SV% into Friday night's game, where the Mammoth enter action at +110 on the money line.

Stenlund missed Monday's game against the Dallas Stars, but was back in the lineup on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, he continues battling an undisclosed injury, making his status uncertain for Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks. The 29-year-old Stenlund has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 67 games this season.