Bortuzzo has been out of the lineup since January 2nd with a lower-body injury but appears to be nearing a return after being a full participant at practice on Friday. The 34-year-old Bortuzzo has been held without a point in 15 games this season while tallying 21 hits and 20 blocks.
Sergachev left Tampa Bay's game Wednesday vs. New York after a glaringly bad lower-body injury in his first game back from injury since December 19th and will now be out indefinitely after undergoing successful tibia and fibula surgery in his left leg. The 25-year-old will return to Tampa Bay to begin his rehab next week and possibly ends his 2023-24 season with only 19 points (2G/17A) in 34 games played.
Hayton has not played since mid-November and will make his long-awaited return to the lineup on Thursday. Before his injury, Hayton had four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games after being held without a single point in his previous 11.
Ingram will continue to lock down the Coyotes' crease as he makes his third straight start in the first game after Arizona's All-Star break. The 26-year-old was considered somewhat of an All-Star snub as he's broken out in his third NHL season with a 17-11-1 record, 2.61 GAA, .916 SV%, and five shutouts. He'll face the Vegas Golden Knights, who are riding a high after snapping Edmonton's 16-game win streak Tuesday and have won six of their last eight contest.
Sergachev was taken off the ice on a stretcher after following awkwardly on his lower leg in the second period of Wednesday's game against the Rangers. We should receive an update on the injury and a potential timeline for his return in the coming days.
Sergachev has not played since December 19th but will return to the lineup on Wednesday. Wednesday's tilt against the New York Rangers marks the first game Sergachev is eligible to return after being placed on LTIR in December. Sergachev had 19 points (2G / 17A) in 33 games before his injury.
Hayton has not played since mid-November but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. Before his injury, Hayton had four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games after being held without a single point in his previous 11.
Sergachev has not played since December 19th and will miss at least six more games. After being placed on long-term injured reserve, the earliest Sergachev can return to the lineup is on February 7th, which appears likely after he practised with the second powerplay unit at practice on Monday. Sergachev had 19 points (2G / 17A) in 33 games before his injury.
DeSimone was a healthy scratch for the last five games for the Calgary Flames and was placed on waivers on Wednesday. The 29-year-old defenseman has five points (1G / 4A), 19 shots, 12 hits, and 21 blocks in 23 games this season.
On the back end of a back-to-back, the Coyotes will turn to Ingram between the pipes after Karel Vejmelka allowed six goals in a 6-2 loss to the Florida Panthers last night. Before Wednesday, Ingram started five straight games (3-1-1), allowing three or fewer goals in each, posting a stellar .941 SV%. The Coyotes are +173 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has won six of their last seven contests (6-1-0).
Yamamoto will draw in for John Hayden, who is a healthy scratch on Wednesday. Yamamoto has seven goals and five assists in 42 games this season.
Schmaltz last played on January 16th, exiting the game with an upper-body injury after playing only 11:11 time-on-ice, and he has missed three games since. The talented playmaker has five points (3G / 2A) in his last six games and will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers.
DeSimone has been a healthy scratch the last two games and was placed on waivers by the Flames on Wednesday. The 29-year-old defenseman has five points (1G / 4A), 19 shots, 12 hits, and 21 blocks in 23 games this season.
Schmaltz last played on January 16th, exiting the game with a lower-body injury after playing only 11:11 time-on-ice, and he has missed three games since. The talented playmaker has five points (3G / 2A) in his last six games and is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers.
Vejmelka served as the backup to Connor Ingram for the last five games but will return to the crease on Wednesday. After a brief stretch of promising play in December, Vejmelka has allowed three or more goals in four straight games (1-3-0), posting an ugly .852 SV%. The Coyotes, winners of two straight, are sizeable +204 road underdogs against a Panthers club that snapped a four-game losing skid with a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday.
Despite losing two of his last three (1-1-1), Ingram will start for the fifth straight game on Monday night. After a poor game to open the 2024 calendar year, allowing five goals in a 5-1 loss to the New York Islanders, Ingram has allowed three or fewer goals in each of his last six appearances (3-1-1), posting a stellar .932 SV%. The Coyotes are +131 home underdogs against a Penguins club that defeated them 4-2 last month.
Valimaki will draw into the lineup on Monday in favour of Troy Stecher, who will be a healthy scratch. Valimaki has been out of the lineup for the last six games and has only six points (0G / 6A) in 30 games, a substantial decline from the 34 points (4G / 30A) he had in 78 games last season.
