Utah Mammoth News

Arizona's goaltending carousel continues Saturday as Karel Vejmelka takes the crease hoping to snap a person's six-game losing streak. The 27-year-old Czech netminder has struggled to win in 2023-24 but is putting up career-highs in almost all other statistical categories as he is 2-5-2 with a 3.08 GAA and .906 SV%. They will look to slow down Winnipeg Saturday on the road, who has won five of their last six games and are 6th in the NHL in goals per game (3.63).

The Coyotes have recalled Jan Jenik from Tuscon (AHL) as a forward replacement for Hayton, who will miss 4-6 weeks. Hayton scored a goal for the Coyotes despite exiting the game with an upper-body injury after playing only 7:57 time-on-ice. The Coyotes finished the game down two forwards as Matias Maccelli also exited the game but was more fortunate than Hayton with his post-game prognosis, as he is not expected to miss much (if any) time. Hayton had four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games after being held without a single point in his first 11.

Maccelli exited Thursday's game with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:04 time-on-ice but seems to have avoided a serious injury. The talented Finnish winger has been having a solid season with the Coyotes, totalling 11 points (2G / 9A) in 16 games while primarily playing Nick Bjugstad and Lawson Crouse on the Coyotes' second line.

Hayton managed to score a goal for the Coyotes despite exiting the game with an upper-body injury after playing only 7:57 time-on-ice. The Coyotes finished the game down two forwards as Matias Maccelli also exited the game. Hayton has four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games after being held without a single point in his first 11.

Maccelli exited Thursday's game with an upper-body injury after playing only 6:04 time-on-ice. The talented Finnish winger has been having a solid season with the Coyotes, totalling 11 points (2G / 9A) in 16 games while primarily playing Nick Bjugstad and Lawson Crouse on the Coyotes' second line.

Maccelli exited the game in the second period after taking a puck to the face and did not return. The 23-year-old winger has two goals and nine assists in 16 games to open the season. We should expect to receive an update on Maccelli's injury and a possible timeline for his recovery in the coming days.

It couldn't have come at a worse time for Hayton, who was finally finding his stride after going pointless in his first 11 games. Hayton has registered four points in his last five games, including a goal in Thursday's game in Columbus prior to leaving due to the injury. We should expect to receive an update on Hayton's injury and a possible timeline for his recovery in the coming days.

Kesselring played his first nine NHL games last season, recording three assists, six penalty minutes, and a -1 plus/minus rating. He is expected to make his season debut on Thursday, skating on the Coyotes' second defensive pairing with Matt Dumba.

Ingram has been terrific for the Coyotes this season, winning five of the team's seven games, posting a 2.87 GAA and .911 SV%, noticeably outperforming teammate Karel Vejmelka, despite having played in two fewer games. Ingram looks poised for another strong performance on Thursday as the Coyotes are -117 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has lost six consecutive games (0-4-2), held to three or fewer goals in four of those contests.

Valimaki exited the ice under his power immediately after taking a Jani Hakanpaa slapshot directly to the face, leaving a trail of blood behind him. Unfortunately for Valimaki and the Coyotes, it appears to be a significant injury. Valimaki has played in all 15 games for the Coyotes, tallying four points (0G / 4A) and 10 shots while averaging 18:13 time-on-ice.

Vejmelka served as the backup to Connor Ingram in the Coyotes last game on Saturday and, as has been the pattern all season, will re-take the starter's crease on Tuesday. Vejmelka is coming off an excellent showing in a 2-1 losing effort to the St. Louis Blue last week, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%). That said, Vejmelka is in the midst of an ugly stretch of hockey, losing five consecutive games (0-4-1) and posting a .878 SV% in the process. He will be hard-pressed to snap his losing streak as the Coyotes are +207 road underdogs against the Dallas Stars.

McBain, in his third NHL season, was pacing to crush his career-highs, with seven points (4G / 3A) in 13 games this season. He did not play on Saturday and will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The Coyotes have recalled Milos Kelemen as a potential roster replacement during McBain's absence.

After saving 98 of the first 103 shots he faced this season (.951 SV%) and recording a 2-1-0 record, Vejmelka has been somewhat of a liability between the pipes, allowing 16 goals on the subsequent 115 shots (.861 SV%), failing to record a victory in the process (0-3-1). The Coyotes are listed as slight +102 road underdogs on Thursday but will hope Vejmelka can shut the door against the St. Louis Blues and their 28th-ranked offence (2.36 GF / GP).

After saving 98 of the first 103 shots he faced this season (.951 SV%) and recording a 2-1-0 record, Vejmelka has been somewhat of a liability between the pipes, allowing 16 goals on the subsequent 115 shots (.861 SV%), failing to record a victory in the process (0-3-1). The Coyotes are listed as slight +102 road underdogs on Thursday but will hope Vejmelka can shut the door against the St. Louis Blues and their 28th-ranked offence (2.36 GF / GP).

Kesserling will join the Coyotes after being recalled from the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL, where he has been held without a point in six games. Kesserling played nine games with the Coyotes last season, registering three points (0G / 3A) and 12 hits while averaging 17:06 time-on-ice.