Utah Mammoth News

Vejmelka returned to practice on Thursday after being absent on Wednesday due to an illness. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.57 GAA and .909 SV% in 34 games (13-15-4). Assuming he has no setback, Vejmelka will likely be between the pipes for Utah in one of their back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday.

Cooley did not play the previous six games for Utah HC before the break for the 4-Nations Face Off but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. The 20-year-old forward has been enjoying a tremendous season with Utah, scoring 43 points (15G / 28A) in 50 games.

It's unclear if Vejmelka will be ready to return to the lineup when Utah HC returns to action on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has had a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.57 GAA and .909 SV% in 34 games (13-15-4). If Vejmelka is still sidelined on Saturday, expect to see Connor Ingram between the pipes.

With Connor Ingram announced out day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Jaxson Stauber was recalled from Tucson (AHL) to back up Karel Vejmelka. The 25-year-old has performed exceptionally in his limited starts with Utah this season, posting a .925 SV%, 2.23 GAA and 2-1-1 record.

Ingram missed practice on Tuesday and was announced day-to-day due to an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old netminder has struggled greatly in 2024-25 after a strong starting campaign last season, with his 9-7-4 record, 3.23 GAA and .884 SV%. Jaxson Stauber was recalled from Tucson in Ingram's absence, but Karel Vejmelka is expected to get the bulk of Utah's starts regardless.

Durzi has missed Utah's previous 52 games with a shoulder injury but is expected to return to the lineup Saturday vs. Los Angeles. The 26-year-old offensively driven defenseman will make a welcome addition to Utah's back end after he started the season hot with two assists, three SOG and seven PIMs in his first four games before his lengthy injury absence.

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.

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.

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.

Utah HC is coming off a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers with Karel Vejmelka between the pipes, but they will switch to Ingram on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ingram was solid in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 27-year-old Ingram has played well since returning from an injury despite an unfavorable 2-3-1 record, posting a .910 SV%. Utah enters the action on Thursday as -155 road underdogs against a Columbus team that could be without Zach Werenski (lower body) for a second straight game.