Utah Mammoth News

Ingram will return to the crease on Saturday after entering Thursday's game, a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames, in relief of Karel Vejmelka. Ingram has fallen back to earth after his spectacular run at the beginning of December but is still sporting a respectable .909 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-0). Ingram will be facing off against a Minnesota Wild club playing the back end of a back-to-back and has only scored 12 total goals in their last seven games heading into Friday.

Vejmelka will continue the goalie rotation for the Coyotes on Thursday as he will start for the sixth time in the last 12 games. After seemingly refining his game in December, posting a stellar .939 SV% in three straight wins, Vejmelka has struggled against two tough opponents in his last two games (0-2-0), allowing eight goals on 72 combined shots (.889 SV%). Vejmelka and the Coyotes are slight +111 home underdogs against a more evenly matched opponent on Thursday, the Calgary Flames, who have lost two of their last three games (1-2-0).

Cole was replaced by Noah Juulsen on Tuesday as he was a healthy scratch for maintenance reasons. Cole had appeared in every game this season for Vancouver at the age of 34 and has a goal, six assists, 32 SOG and 36 PIMs in 40 games played.

Vanecek will start for only the third time in the last six games for the Devils when they face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Vanecek was great in his last contest, albeit against a low-scoring Chicago Blackhawks team, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 4-2 victory. Vanecek has tallied consecutive quality starts only once this season and will be hard-pressed to do so on Thursday as the Devils are +136 road underdogs.

Valimaki will be the odd-man out on Tuesday as Michael Kesselring draws back into the lineup. Valimaki has no goals and six assists in 30 games this season.

Cole will take a rest Tuesday as he is a healthy scratch due to maintenance as Noah Juulsen takes his place in the Canucks' lineup. Cole has appeared in every game this season for Vancouver at the age of 34 and has a goal, six assists, 32 SOG and 36 PIMs in 40 games played.

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.