Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Utah Mammoth News

Vanecek will start vs. Vancouver on Thursday.

Vanecek has not played an NHL game since suffering an upper-body injury on December 14th but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. In a brief conditioning stint with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), Vanecek posted a 2.00 GAA and .917 SV% in one game (1-0-0). He has a 3.84 GAA and .885 SV% in 14 appearances with the Sharks this season (3-8-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +182 home underdogs against a Canucks squad coming off an impressive 3-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Vitek Vanecek
Vanecek was the first goalie off the ice at San Jose's morning skate.

Vanecek has not played an NHL game since suffering an upper-body injury on December 14th but will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. In a brief conditioning stint with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), Vanecek posted a 2.00 GAA and .917 SV% in one game (1-0-0). He has a 3.84 GAA and .885 SV% in 14 appearances with the Sharks this season (3-8-1). The Sharks enter Thursday's contest as +182 home underdogs against a Canucks squad coming off an impressive 3-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Vitek Vanecek
Crouse will rejoin Utah's lineup on Thursday in Columbus.

Matias Maccelli will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing Crouse to re-enter the lineup. The 27-year-old Crouse is averaging 14:16 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (7G / 4A), 24 penalty minutes, and 105 hits in 52 games this season.

Lawson Crouse
Vejmelka will start against the Flyers on Tuesday.

Utah HC has lost five straight (0-3-2) and will attempt to change their fortunes on Tuesday with Vejmelka between the pipes against the Philadelphia Flyers. Vejemlka has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five games (1-3-1), posting a .882 SV%. Still, the Czech netminder is sporting a solid 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% through 31 appearances this season (11-14-4). Utah enters Tuesday's contest as -140 home favorites against a Philadelphia team that has failed to score in three straight games (0-3-0).

Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka was the first goalie off the ice at Utah's morning skate.

Utah HC has lost five straight (0-3-2) and will attempt to change their fortunes on Tuesday with Vejmelka between the pipes against the Philadelphia Flyers. Vejemlka has allowed three or more goals in four of his last five games (1-3-1), posting a .882 SV%. Still, the Czech netminder is sporting a solid 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% through 31 appearances this season (11-14-4). Utah enters Tuesday's contest as -140 home favorites against a Philadelphia team that has failed to score in three straight games (0-3-0).

Karel Vejmelka
Crouse is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Philadelphia on Tuesday.

With Dylan Guenther (lower body) return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, Crouse will be a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Crouse is averaging 14:16 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (7G / 4A), 24 penalty minutes, and 105 hits in 52 games this season.

Lawson Crouse
Guenther (lower-body) will return vs. Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Guenther has not played since January 8th, missing 12 games, but will likely make his return on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 21-year-old Guenther has had a productive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 34 points (16G / 18A) in 40 games. That said, he only has two points (0G / 2A) in his last eight contests. Lawson Crouse will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Guenther's return to the lineup.

Dylan Guenther
Cooley will be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Cooley showed no signs of an injury in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, recording an assist and playing 17:47 time-on-ice, but will be out indefinitely due to a lower-body injury. The 20-year-old forward has been enjoying a tremendous season with Utah, scoring 43 points (15G / 28A) in 50 games.

Logan Cooley
Vejmelka will start vs. Columbus on Friday.

Utah HC finds themselves in a three-game losing skid and will attempt to return to the win column with Vejmelka between the pipes on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Vejmelka allowed three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old Czech netminder is sporting a solid 2.47 GAA and .912 SV% through 30 appearances this season (11-14-3).

Karel Vejmelka
Sergachev (upper-body) will play against the Penguins on Wednesday.

Sergachev has missed five straight games with an upper-body injury but could return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging a monstrous 25:45 time-on-ice, a career-high, recording 30 points (8G / 22A), 81 blocks, and 23 hits in 44 games this season.

Mikhail Sergachev
Carcone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh.

Mattias Maccelli will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing Carcone to re-enter the lineup. The 28-year-old Carcone is averaging 11:04 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 31 games this season.

Michael Carcone
Guenther (lower-body) returned to practice in a non-contact jersey on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day.

Guenther has not played since January 8th, missing nine games, but appears to be inching closer to a return after practicing in a non-contact jersey on Wednesday. The 21-year-old Guenther has had a productive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 34 points (16G / 18A) in 40 games. That said, he only has two points (0G / 2A) in his last eight contests.

Dylan Guenther
Vanecek has been loaned to the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) for a conditioning assignment.

Vanecek has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on December 14th and will spend some time in the AHL on a conditioning stint with the San Jose Barracuda. Before his injury, the 29-year-old Czech netminder was sporting a 3.84 GAA and .885 SV% in 14 appearances (3-8-1).

Vitek Vanecek
Sergachev (upper-body) will be a game-time decision vs. Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Sergachev has missed five straight games with an upper-body injury but could return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging a monstrous 25:45 time-on-ice, a career-high, recording 30 points (8G / 22A), 81 blocks, and 23 hits in 44 games this season.

Mikhail Sergachev