Utah Mammoth News

Juuso Valimaki (upper body) will be out "a while" after taking a puck high Tuesday.

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.

Juuso Valimaki
Karel Vejmelka will start Tuesday in Dallas.

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.

Karel Vejmelka
Tanev (lower-body) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play against the Avalanche on Monday.

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.

Brandon Tanev
Brandon Tanev (lower body) was activated from the injured reserve and will be a game-time decision Monday vs. Colorado

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.

Brandon Tanev
Jack McBain (upper body) is week-to-week with an injury.

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.

Jack McBain
Vanecek will start Friday's game against the Capitals.

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).

Vitek Vanecek
Vitek Vanecek is in the starter's crease at the Devils' morning skate.

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).

Vitek Vanecek
Karel Vejmelka will start Thursday in St. Louis.

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).

Karel Vejmelka
Karel Vejmelka is in the starter's crease at Arizona's morning skate.

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).

Karel Vejmelka
Scott Perunovich is expected to draw back into the Blues' lineup Thursday vs. Arizona.

Perunovich will re-enter the Blues' lineup on Thursday as the team looks for a spark after a disappointing 5-2 loss at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Perunovich has been with the Blues the entire season but has only cracked the lineup twice, recording zero points while averaging 11:38 time-on-ice. The 45th overall pick of the Blues in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has yet to make his mark in the NHL but has dominated at every other level, including 42 points (5G / 37A) in 39 career AHL games.

Scott Perunovich
Vanecek will start in Colorado on Tuesday.

Vanecek has seemingly secured the Devils' starting gig as he will be the starter for the fifth time in their last six games. Vanecek has been far from perfect but has done enough to give the high-scoring Devils (3.91 GF / GP) a chance to win on most nights, posting a 3.05 GAA and .900 SV% through eight games (6-2-0). The Devils, without Jack Hughes, are +160 road underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche, who will be desperate for a victory after being shut out in three of their last four contests (1-3-0).

Vitek Vanecek
Vitek Vanecek was in the starter's crease at Tuesday's morning skate.

Vanecek has seemingly secured the Devils' starting gig as he appears to be the starter for the fifth time in their last six games. Vanecek has been far from perfect but has done enough to give the high-scoring Devils (3.91 GF / GP) a chance to win on most nights, posting a 3.05 GAA and .900 SV% through eight games (6-2-0). The Devils, without Jack Hughes, are +160 road underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche, who will be desperate for a victory after being shut out in three of their last four contests (1-3-0).

Vitek Vanecek
Connor Ingram will start Tuesday vs. Seattle.

Despite an even rotation between the pipes with Karel Vejmelka, Ingram has been the superior goalie for the Coyotes thus far and will pick up his sixth start on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Over his last two games (2-0-0), Ingram has saved 57 of 60 shots (.950 SV%). The Kraken are averaging the sixth-fewest goals per game this season (2.66), which bodes well for the Coyotes, who rank in the top half of the league defensively (2.91 GA / GP).

Connor Ingram
Vanecek led the Devils onto the ice for warmups.

Vanecek allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Devils' win in Minnesota on Thursday. Vanecek was given a night off on Friday but will be back in the crease Sunday in Chicago. Vanecek comes in riding a three-game winning streak despite allowing a combined 10 goals on 86 shots (.884 SV%). Vanecek and the Devils are late -205 favourites, so he makes for a great start even with the Devils missing Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.

Vitek Vanecek
Karel Vejmelka will start Saturday vs. Winnipeg.

Vejmelka allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in his previous start for his third loss in a row but will look to right the ship Saturday vs. Winnipeg. The 27-year-old has done well when called up this season, with his 2-3-1 record, .916 SV% and 2.75 GAA. He will face Winnipeg for a Saturday matinee, who has lost three straight games and are 15th in the NHL in goals per game (3.1).

Karel Vejmelka
Karel Vejmelka is the likely starter Saturday vs. Winnipeg.

Vejmelka allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) in his previous start for his third loss in a row but will look to right the ship Saturday vs. Winnipeg. The 27-year-old has done well when called up this season, with his 2-3-1 record, .916 SV% and 2.75 GAA. He will face Winnipeg for a Saturday matinee, who has lost three straight games and are 15th in the NHL in goals per game (3.1).

Karel Vejmelka
Nick DeSimone has been recalled from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).

DeSimone has four assists and a +4 plus/minus in six games with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and has been recalled to the Flames Friday for the first time this season. The 28-year-old returns to the NHL, where he failed to pick up a point in a short four game appearance in 2022-23 where he averaged only 11:15 TOI. DeSimone will replace Jordan Oesterle on the Flames who was waived on Thursday afternoon.

Nick DeSimone