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Utah Mammoth News

Vejmelka will start against the Sharks on Friday.

Utah's defensive prowess has been on display early in the 2025-26 season, limiting its opposition to only eight total goals. However, they have only translated their defensive effectiveness into a 2-2-0 record due to difficulties offensively, only scoring eight goals in the process. Vejmelka will likely be between the pipes on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, looking to build on an already impressive 1.67 GAA and .929 SV% through three games (2-1-0). The Mammoth enter Friday's contest as sizable -245 home favorites against a Sharks team searching for their first win this season (0-1-2).

Karel Vejmelka
O'Brien (undisclosed) will make his season debut on Friday.

O'Brien was sidelined for most of training camp and missed the first four games of the season but will draw into the lineup on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old O'Brien appeared in 28 games for Utah in 2024-25, picking up two assists and 50 PIMs alongside 34 SOG. Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch to accommodate O'Brien's return to the lineup.

Liam O'Brien
Vejmelka is in the starter's crease at the Mammoth's morning skate.

Utah's defensive prowess has been on display early in the 2025-26 season, limiting its opposition to only eight total goals. However, they have only translated their defensive effectiveness into a 2-2-0 record due to difficulties offensively, only scoring eight goals in the process. Vejmelka will likely be between the pipes on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, looking to build on an already impressive 1.67 GAA and .929 SV% through three games (2-1-0). The Mammoth enter Friday's contest as sizable -245 home favorites against a Sharks team searching for their first win this season (0-1-2).

Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka will start against the Flames on Wednesday.

After getting the night off in Utah's most recent outing, Vejmelka will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Vejmelka has been solid early in the 2025-26 season but has only been rewarded with a 1-1-0 record, despite an impressive 1.99 GAA and .920 SV%. The Czech goaltending tandem of Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek should continue to be led by Vejmelka, unless his play dictates otherwise. The Mammoth enters Wednesday's contest as sizable -220 home favorites against a Flames team that has been outscored 9-16 in their first four games (1-3-0).

Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka is in the starter's crease at Utah's morning skate.

After getting the night off in Utah's most recent outing, Vejmelka will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Vejmelka has been solid early in the 2025-26 season but has only been rewarded with a 1-1-0 record, despite an impressive 1.99 GAA and .920 SV%. The Czech goaltending tandem of Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek should continue to be led by Vejmelka, unless his play dictates otherwise. The Mammoth enters Wednesday's contest as sizable -220 home favorites against a Flames team that has been outscored 9-16 in their first four games (1-3-0).

Karel Vejmelka
Hayton (undisclosed) is expected to make his season debut in Chicago on Monday.

Hayton battled an undisclosed injury through the latter half of the preseason and has missed Utah's first two games of the season, but looks set to play on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Hayton has shown glimpses of strong productivity but has lacked consistency. He scored 46 points (20G / 26A) in 82 games last season.

Barrett Hayton
Vanecek will start in Chicago on Monday.

The Utah Mammoth are 1-1-0 to start the 2025-26 season and will start Vanecek between the pipes for his first start of the season on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Vanecek is in his first season with Utah after splitting the 2024-25 campaign with the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers, posting a 3.62 GAA and .884 SV% in 25 combined appearances (5-14-4). The Mammoth enter Monday's contest as -166 road favorites against the Blackhawks.

Vitek Vanecek
Yamamoto is expected to be a healthy scratch in Chicago on Monday.

Michael Carcone will make his season debut on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks, resulting in Yamamoto being a healthy scratch. Yamamoto spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but scored three points (2G / 1A) in 12 games with Utah last season. The 27-year-old forward has been held off the scoresheet through two games in 2025-26.

Kailer Yamamoto
Carcone will draw back into Utah's lineup in Chicago on Monday.

Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing Carcone to draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 29-year-old Carcone scored a career-high 21 goals in 2023-24 but followed that up with only seven goals last season in 2024-25.

Michael Carcone
Vanecek was the first goalie off the ice at Utah's morning skate.

The Utah Mammoth are 1-1-0 to start the 2025-26 season and will likely start Vanecek between the pipes for his first start of the season on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Vanecek is in his first season with Utah after splitting the 2024-25 campaign with the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers, posting a 3.62 GAA and .884 SV% in 25 combined appearances (5-14-4). The Mammoth enter Monday's contest as -166 road favorites against the Blackhawks.

Vitek Vanecek
Hayton (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision in Chicago on Monday.

Hayton battled an undisclosed injury through the latter half of the preseason and has missed Utah's first two games of the season, but could play on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Hayton has shown glimpses of strong productivity but has lacked consistency. He scored 46 points (20G / 26A) in 82 games last season.

Barrett Hayton
Durzi is expected to miss the next four week with an upper-body injury.

Durzi suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators, scoring one assist but exiting after only 16:58 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old Durzi was solid in limited action with Utah last season, scoring 11 points (4G / 7A) in 30 games.

Sean Durzi
Vejmelka will start in Colorado on Thursday.

With the offseason departure of Connor Ingram, Vejmelka will likely see a heavy workload in the 2025-26 season, starting with Utah's season opener against the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old Vejmelka played a career-high 58 games last season (26-22-8), and posted career-highs in GAA (2.58) and SV% (.904). With an improved roster up front, a strong season from Vejmelka should allow Utah to flirt with playoff contention. Still, Utah enters Thursday's matchup as +165 road underdogs against Colorado's high-octane offence.

Karel Vejmelka
O'Brien (lower-body) is out for Utah's season opener on Thursday and is still considered day-to-day.

O'Brien has been sidelined for most of training camp due to a lower-body injury and appears to be nearing a return to the lineup, but will not be ready for the season opener on Thursday. The 31-year-old grinder nicknamed "Spicy Tuna" appeared in 28 games for Utah in 2024-25, picking up two assists and 50 PIMs alongside 34 SOG.

Liam O'Brien
Hayton (undisclosed) will miss Utah's season opener and is still considered day-to-day.

Hayton battled an undisclosed injury through the latter half of the preseason and will not play in Utah's season opener on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 25-year-old Hayton has shown glimpses of strong productivity but has lacked consistency. He scored 46 points (20G / 26A) in 82 games last season.

Barrett Hayton