Utah Mammoth News

Arizona will continue to rotate their goalies as Connor Ingram retakes the crease Tuesday vs. Boston after backing up Karel Vejmelka last game. The 26-year-old has been the surprising standout of the two Coyotes' net-minders in his third NHL season, with a 13-8-0 record, 2.61 GAA, .915 SV% and a league leading four shutouts. He draws the Boston Bruins at home in the desert Tuesday, who are coming off a tough 4-3 shootout loss to Colorado Monday, but are still enjoying a relatively strong offensive season ranking 10th in the NHL in goals per game (3.37).

Vanecek has served as the backup to Nico Daws in two of the last three games, both wins for the Devils, but will return to the crease on Friday evening. Before allowing five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in his last outings, Vanecek won two straight games, saving 48 of 53 shots in the process (.906 SV%). Vanecek and the Devils are overwhelming -432 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that has lost four straight, being outscored 15-2 in their last three (0-3-0).

Vanecek has served as the backup to Nico Daws in two of the last three games, both wins for the Devils, but will likely return to the crease on Friday evening. Before allowing five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in his last outings, Vanecek won two straight games, saving 48 of 53 shots in the process (.906 SV%). Vanecek and the Devils are overwhelming -432 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that has lost four straight, being outscored 15-2 in their last three (0-3-0).

DeSimone will check back into the lineup on Thursday as Jordan Oesterle is the odd-man out. DeSimone has one goal and four assists in 15 games this season.

Sergachev has not played since December 19th and will miss at least four more games after being placed on long-term injured reserve, with an earliest possible return date of January 13th. Sergachev has 19 points (2G / 17A) in 33 games and has been replaced by Darren Raddysh on the second powerplay unit.

Ingram will return to the crease for the Coyotes on Thursday as their equal distribution goalie rotation is back in full effect. In his last outing, Ingram saved all 28 shots he faced for a 2-0 shutout victory over the Anaheim Ducks, his second shutout in four outings. Ingram and the Coyotes will be facing a tougher foe on Thursday when they welcome the New York Islanders, who have points in five of their last seven games (3-2-2). In his last 12 games (7-4-0), Ingram has four shutouts and a dazzling .928 SV%.

Sergachev remains day-to-day and is expected to return shortly but will miss a sixth straight game on Saturday. Sergachev has 19 points (2G / 17A) in 33 games and has been replaced by Darren Raddysh on the second powerplay unit.

The Coyotes have returned to evenly rotating their goalies as Vejmelka will return to the crease on Tuesday and start for the fourth time in their last eight games. Vejmelka's increase in playing time has been a direct result of his elevated play, saving 93 of the last 99 shots he has faced (.939 SV%) over his last four games (4-0-0). The Coyotes are +145 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team that has won four straight, outscoring their opposition 15-9.

Sergachev remains day-to-day and is expected to return shortly but will miss a fourth straight game on Saturday. Haydn Fleury will likely remain in the Lightning lineup Saturday and Darren Raddysh will continue to operate the Lightning No.2 PP unit.

Karel Vejmelka was between the pipes for the Coyotes on Wednesday in their 5-4 overtime win over the Avalanche, but the team will shift back to their early-season strategy of alternating starts and turn to Ingram on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. Ingram has lost the magic he had in late November, dropping four of his last five games (1-4-0), posting a subpar .873 SV%. That said, Ingram and the Coyotes will have a favourable matchup against a Ducks team that ranks fourth worst in the league offensively (2.65 GF / GP) despite defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 in their last game.

Maatta is expected to draw back into the lineup after a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The veteran defenseman skated alongside Shayne Gostisbehere at practice on Thursday and has six points (1G / 5A), 16 hits, and 29 blocks through 27 games this season.

Vanecek has started the last three games for the Devils (1-1-1) and will start again on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vanecek has allowed three goals or fewer in four of his last game games (3-1-1), his best stretch of play this season, posting a .908 SV% in the process. The Devils are significant -254 home favourites against a Blue Jackets squad that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1), including a 6-3 loss to the Devils on December 16th.

J.J. Moser will not play on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury, allowing Valimaki to re-enter the lineup. Valimaki last played on December 19th, recording two penalty minutes, two shots, and one hit in 20:56 time-on-ice.

Vejmelka will start for the third time in the last five games and look to improve on his best run of play this season when he takes the crease on Wednesday. Over his last three appearances (3-0-0), Vejmelka has saved 73 of 75 shots (.973 SV%) and has demanded action with his solid play after seemingly losing the starting gig to Connor Ingram earlier this month. The Coyotes are +149 home underdogs on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche, who has won two straight, including a 4-1 win over the Coyotes on Saturday.

Vanecek has started the last three games for the Devils (1-1-1) and will likely start again on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vanecek has allowed three goals or fewer in four of his last game games (3-1-1), his best stretch of play this season, posting a .908 SV% in the process. The Devils are significant -254 home favourites against a Blue Jackets squad that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1), including a 6-3 loss to the Devils on December 16th.