Utah Mammoth News

With Connor Ingram out of the lineup due to an injury, Vejmelka will likely start on Friday for the Coyotes and be their go-to option between the pipes. Vejmelka saved 12 of 13 shots (.923 SV%) in relief on Wednesday in a 3-1 losing effort to the Minnesota Wild. The Coyotes will need Vejmelka to be stellar on Friday night, a tall task for a struggling netminder behind a team riding a seven-game losing streak that is a +178 home underdog against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws started and won both games in a back-to-back set on Monday and Tuesday and will start between the pipes again on Thursday.

Connor Ingram suffered an injury on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild and did not complete the contest. Luckily for the Coyotes, Ingram's injury is not expected to be long-term. Villalta has a 2.58 GAA and .913 SV% in 34 games (22-11-1) with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL) this season and will serve as the backup to Karel Vejmelka in the interim.

O'Brien was a late scratch on Monday night and will remain out of the lineup on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury. O'Brien has three goals and five assists in 49 games this season.

The Coyotes gave Ingram a rare night off in their last outing in an attempt to snap a five-game losing skid but were unable to, losing 5-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 26-year-old Ingram has allowed three or more goals in four straight (0-4-0), posting an ugly .857 SV%, well below his season average (.912 SV%). The Coyotes are slight -103 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club riding a three-game winning streak, including an impressive 5-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.

Yamamoto will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as the Kraken look to get fresh legs into their lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Tye Kartye will draw into the lineup in Yamamoto's place.

O'Brien will be the odd-man out on Monday as Adam Ruzicka is set to make his Coyotes debut. O'Brien has three goals and five assists in 49 games this season.

Vejmelka has seen limited action between the pipes lately but will start on Monday after repeated poor outings by Connor Ingram. Vejmelka saved all 28 shots he faced entering Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in relief of Connor Ingram, who allowed three goals on six shots (.500 SV%) in the first period. It's not the first time Ingram has faltered this season, but Vejmelka has failed to take advantage of each opportunity to impress the Coyotes coaching staff. The Coyotes are +135 road underdogs against a Philidelphia Flyers squad riding a three-game winning streak.

Vanecek was excellent in a losing effort over the weekend, allowing one goal on 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Nico Daws will start between the pipes on Monday night for the Devils, who will likely recall Akira Schmid from the AHL to serve as part of the Devils' tandem while Vanecek is unable to play.

Vanecek will start for the third straight game on Thursday night when the Devils host the Calgary Flames. Vanecek was terrific in his last outing, snapping a two-game losing skid by limiting the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche to only three goals on 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 5-3 victory. The Devils enter action as -137 home favourites despite the Flames carrying momentum from a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Perunovich appeared in 16:14 TOI in the Blues game on January 28th vs. Los Angeles but has been announced out week-to-week with a lower-body injury after not participating in practice Thursday and missing the Blues' previous game. The 25-year-old rookie appeared in his 50th career game last contest and has no goals, 12 assists, 23 SOG, six PIMs and a -4 plus/minus through 31 games before his injury this season.

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.

Vanecek will start for the third straight game on Thursday night when the Devils host the Calgary Flames. Vanecek was terrific in his last outing, snapping a two-game losing skid by limiting the high-scoring Colorado Avalanche to only three goals on 38 shots (.921 SV%) in a 5-3 victory. The Devils enter action as -137 home favourites despite the Flames carrying momentum from a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.