DeSimone played 11 games with the Devils last season, scoring two points (1G / 1A), but has primarily been an AHL players, playing only 38 career NHL games since his professional debut in the 2016-17 season. In nine games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this season, the 29-year-old DeSimone has two points (0G / 2A) and a -10 plus/minus.
The Sharks have won three of their last four games, two with Vanecek between the pipes, and will turn to him for a second consecutive start for the first time this season. The 28-year-old Vanecek has been serviceable between the pipes for a Sharks club with a -17 goal differential, second-worst in the league, posting a 3.21 GAA and .902 SV% in seven outings (2-4-0). That said, the Sharks enter the action on Thursday as significant +225 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club with only two regulation losses (8-2-2).
Carcone has been limited to only three games this season after a career-high 21 goal 2023-24 season. He has zero points, a -2 plus/minus, and is averaging 11:19 time-on-ice through three games this season. He will draw in for Robert Bortuzzo on Thursday as Utah HC will revert back to the traditional 12-forward, six-defensemen formation.
Anthony Mantha is battling a lower-body injury and will not play on Thursday, allowing Rooney to re-enter the lineup for the Flames. The 31-year-old Rooney is without a point in five games while averaging 8:13 time-on-ice this season.
Justin Kirkland will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday after a two-game absence, sending Rooney to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Rooney is without a point in five games while averaging 8:13 time-on-ice this season.
Vanecek has taken a back seat to Mackenzie Blackwood lately, starting only two of the last seven games for the Sharks, but will 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.
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.
Connor Ingram has started the last four games for Utah HC, but Vejmelka will start on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. In limited action this season, appearing only three times (0-2-0), Vejmelka has a 3.04 GAA and .889 SV%. Utah HC has a .542 point percentage with a 5-4-3 record but has a -5 goal differential, allowing an average of 3.5 goals per game. Utah HC enters the action on Tuesday as +183 road underdogs against the Jets, leading the league with 22 points (11-1-0).
Connor Ingram has started the last four games for Utah HC, but Vejmelka will likely start on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. In limited action this season, appearing only three times (0-2-0), Vejmelka has a 3.04 GAA and .889 SV%. Utah HC has a .542 point percentage with a 5-4-3 record but has a -5 goal differential, allowing an average of 3.5 goals per game. Utah HC enters the action on Tuesday as +183 road underdogs against the Jets, leading the league with 22 points (11-1-0).
Perunovich has been in and out of the Blues' lineup the past two weeks but will return for his fourth game of the season on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 26-year-old Perunovich is averaging 11:15 time-on-ice and has zero points through three games this season.
Justin Kirkland will be a healthy scratch for the first time since the opening game of the season, as Rooney re-enters the lineup for the Flames. In three games this season, Rooney has a -1 plus/minus and 10 hits.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Perunovich to re-enter the lineup for his third game of the season. The 26-year-old Perunovich registered zero points and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:48 time-on-ice in his two contests this season.
Rooney has played two of the last three games but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Utah Hockey Club. In three games this season, Rooney has a -1 plus/minus and 10 hits.
O'Brien will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday in favor of Juuso Valimaki as Utah HC will go with an 11-forward, seven-defensemen formation. The 30-year-old O'Brien has zero points, five penalty minutes, and 13 hits in three games this season.
Valimaki will re-enter Utah's lineup on Wednesday as the team will opt to go with an 11-forward, seven-defensemen formation. Valimaki has not played the last two games and has zero points and a -5 plus/minus in eight outings this season.
Maata was acquired yesterday in a trade from the Detroit Red Wings to address their injuries on the blue line, namely John Marino (back) and Sean Durzi (shoulder), who are out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. Maatta, in the final year of a two-year, $3.0M AAV deal, has no points, three SOG, seven blocked shots, and three hits in seven games this season.
Utah's blueline has been shorthanded after John Marino went back surgery and Sean Durzi had shoulder surgery, so they've added an NHL-calibre defenseman to help fill the void. Maatta, who is in the final year of a two-year, $3.0M AAV deal, has no points, three SOG, seven blocked shots and three hits in seven games this season.
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.
Matthew Kessel will draw into the Blues' lineup on Tuesday, replacing Perunovich after playing two consecutive games. The 26-year-old Perunovich registered zero points and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:48 time-on-ice in his two contests this season.
Adam Klapka will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Rooney to re-enter the lineup for the Flames. The 31-year-old Rooney has been limited to only two games so far this season, scoring zero points while averaging 4:36 time-on-ice.
