Utah recalled Villalta on Sunday to give Karel Vejmelka the night off, but now he will return to the AHL. The 26-year-old Villalta has a 3.10 GAA and .895 SV% this season 33 games with the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL).
Vejmelka allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Mammoth's win over the Predators on Thursday. Vejmelka is riding a five-game winning streak, stopping 123 of the 137 shots (.898 SV%) that he's faced. Tonight he'll face a Carolina team that rest a handful of regulars on Thursday, making Vejmelka a strong option in what would otherwise be considered a difficult matchup.
Rooney was called up last Friday but did not get into a game during his time with the Mammoth. Rooney returns to the AHL, where he has 12 goals and 11 assists (23 points) in 43 games this season.
Vejmelka struggled in Utah's previous game, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%), but his team battled to salvage him a 6-5 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has been wildly inconsistent since the beginning of March, despite a solid 8-4-1 record, posting a less-than-stellar 3.26 GAA and .879 SV%. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as -161 home favourites against a desperate Nashville Predators team that likely needs a win to stay in the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
Vejmelka struggled in Utah's previous game, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%), but his team battled to salvage him a 6-5 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has been wildly inconsistent since the beginning of March, despite a solid 8-4-1 record, posting a less-than-stellar 3.26 GAA and .879 SV%. The Mammoth enter Thursday's contest as -161 home favourites against a desperate Nashville Predators team that likely needs a win to stay in the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
O'Brien will take a seat on Tuesday as the Mammoth are opting to dress seven blue-liners. Mackenzie Weegar (upper-body) will return to the lineup in his place.
Weegar has not played in Utah's previous two games due to an upper-body injury, but will return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 32-year-old defenseman has four points (1G / 3A) in 13 games since joining Utah before the trade deadline, but he has been especially effective in recent outings, tallying three points (1G / 2A) in four games before his injury.
Vejmelka will make his league-leading 60th start of the season when the Mammoth host the Oilers on Tuesday. Utah's workhorse netminder collected his third-straight victory in his last start, allowing four goals on 23 shots in a 7-4 win in Vancouver on Saturday. Vejmelka carries a 35-19-3 record and an .897 SV% into Tuesday night's pivotal matchup against the Oilers, where the Mammoth enter action at -130 on the money line.
Weegar has not played in Utah's previous two games due to an upper-body injury, but he could return to the lineup as soon as Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 32-year-old defenseman has four points (1G / 3A) in 13 games since joining Utah before the trade deadline, but he has been especially effective in recent outings, tallying three points (1G / 2A) in four games before his injury.
