Schmidt had played 11 straight games for the Jets, tallying only one point (0G / 1A), seven hits, and five shots, before being a healthy scratch on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. Logan Stanley will sit in place of Schmidt.
The Devils will turn to Vanecek for the second straight game after he allowed just two goals on 23 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Penguins. Given the struggles of Akira Schmid, Vanecek has been just solid enough to maintain a firm grasp on the Devils' starting job. He owns an impressive 7-3-0 record on the season despite an .889 SV% and a 3.30 GAA. Vanecek and the Devils are very slight home favourites (-120) to secure a victory over the Rangers on Saturday.
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.
Schmidt has played 11 straight games for the Jets, tallying only one point (0G / 1A), seven hits, and five shots and will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres. The Jets dressed seven defencemen in their last contest but will opt for the more traditional six-defenceman formation as Logan Stanley, who entered the lineup in their previous game, will remain dressed in favour of Schmidt.
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.
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.
Vanecek received the night off on Tuesday but will return to the starter's crease on Thursday against the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins. Vanecek and the Devils have been shadows of themselves, with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier out of the lineup tending to injuries. The Devils have lost four of their last five (1-4-0), scoring more than three goals only once in that span. In addition, Vanecek hasn't been able to shut the door consistently, highlighted by his two most recent performances (0-2-0), allowing seven goals on a combined 36 shots (.806 SV%). Making things worse, the Devils are +127 road underdogs against a Penguins team that has outscored their opposition 25-8 during a five-game winning streak.
Vanecek received the night off on Tuesday but will likely return to the starter's crease on Thursday against the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins. Vanecek and the Devils have been shadows of themselves, with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier out of the lineup tending to injuries. The Devils have lost four of their last five (1-4-0), scoring more than three goals only once in that span. In addition, Vanecek hasn't been able to shut the door consistently, highlighted by his two most recent performances (0-2-0), allowing seven goals on a combined 36 shots (.806 SV%). Making things worse, the Devils are +127 road underdogs against a Penguins team that has outscored their opposition 25-8 during a five-game winning streak.
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.
Tanev, who has not played since the season opener on October 10th, looks set to return on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. Tanev had a career-high 35 points (16G / 19A) in 82 games last season and will likely slot in on the second line with Jared McCann and Alexander Wennberg.
Tanev, who has not played since the season opener on October 10th, is a possibility to return on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. Tanev had a career-high 35 points (16G / 19A) in 82 games last season and would likely slot in on the second line with Jared McCann and Alexander Wennberg.
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.
Vanecek allowed five goals on 31 shots on Tuesday in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche but will look to rebound on Friday. Before that most recent loss, Vanecek had won four consecutive games, saving 108 of 120 shots faced (.900 SV%). Lindy Ruff's high-tempo offensive structure isn't particularly conducive to low-scoring affairs, but Vanecek should continue to garner a healthy amount of victories throughout the season. On Friday, the Devils are -170 home favourites against a Washington Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.00 GF / GP).
Vanecek allowed five goals on 31 shots on Tuesday in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche but will look to rebound as the likely starter on Friday. Before that most recent loss, Vanecek had won four consecutive games, saving 108 of 120 shots faced (.900 SV%). Lindy Ruff's high-tempo offensive structure isn't particularly conducive to low-scoring affairs, but Vanecek should continue to garner a healthy amount of victories throughout the season. On Friday, the Devils are -170 home favourites against a Washington Capitals team that ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.00 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).
