Utah Hockey Club News

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

For the seventh time in eight games, Utah HC will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes. Vejmelka was riding a four-game winning streak before allowing three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in Utah's most recent contest, a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a solid 2.33 GAA and .917 SV% in 20 appearances (8-8-2). Utah HC enters Friday's contest as +117 home underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club riding a three-game winning streak.

Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka will start vs. Dallas on Monday.

Utah HC had a disappointing 5-4 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks yesterday and will revert to Vejmelka between the pipes on Monday against the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old Vejmelka has won four straight games, posting a .931 SV%. The Czech netminder boasts a solid 2.29 GAA and .918 SV% in 19 appearances this season (8-7-2). Utah HC enters Monday's contest as +139 home underdogs against a Dallas club that defeated them 2-1 on December 2nd.

Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka will start in Minnesota on Friday.

Utah HC has won three straight and will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes for this fifth consecutive game. The 28-year-old Czech netminder is far and away having the best season of his career, posting a stellar 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 18 appearances (7-7-2). He has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0), posting a .917 SV%. Utah HC enters Friday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club coming off a disappointing 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.

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

Utah HC has won three straight and will likely roll with Vejmelka between the pipes for this fifth consecutive game. The 28-year-old Czech netminder is far and away having the best season of his career, posting a stellar 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% in 18 appearances (7-7-2). He has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight (3-0-0), posting a .917 SV%. Utah HC enters Friday's contest as +112 road underdogs against a Minnesota Wild club coming off a disappointing 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.

Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka will start on Wednesday vs. Vancouver.

Utah HC has won four of their last five (4-0-1) and will turn to Vejmelka between the pipes for the fourth consecutive game. The 28-year-old Czech netminder allowed three goals on 22 shots (.864 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks, but has been reliable in net all season, posting a solid 2.40 GAA and .915 SV% in 17 appearances (6-7-2). Utah enters Wednesday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Vancouver Canucks club coming off an impressive 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Karel Vejmelka
Vejmelka will start in Colorado on Thurdsay.

Vejmelka struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild. Despite the minor blip on Tuesday, the 28-year-old Czech netminder has been stellar between the pipes this season, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in 15 appearances (4-7-2). Utah HC enters Thursday's contest as +156 road underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club that defeated them 5-1 in their only other meeting this season.

Karel Vejmelka
Bortuzzo (lower-body) did not travel with Utah on their current trip and is expected to be out indefinitely.

Bortuzzo has been in and out of the lineup due to injuries this season. He exited Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild due to a lower-body injury after playing only 6:57 time-on-ice. The 35-year-old Bortuzzo is averaging 11:03 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 15 games this season.

Robert Bortuzzo
Vejmelka is in the starter's crease at Utah's morning skate.

Vejmelka struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild. Despite the minor blip on Tuesday, the 28-year-old Czech netminder has been stellar between the pipes this season, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in 15 appearances (4-7-2). Utah HC enters Thursday's contest as +156 road underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club that defeated them 5-1 in their only other meeting this season.

Karel Vejmelka
DeSimone has been assigned to Utica (AHL).

DeSimone played 11 games with the Devils last season, scoring two points (1G / 1A), but has primarily been an AHL players, playing only 38 career NHL games since his professional debut in the 2016-17 season. In nine games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this season, the 29-year-old DeSimone has two points (0G / 2A) and a -10 plus/minus.

Nick DeSimone
Vejmelka will start vs. Minnesota on Tuesday.

The Coyotes have outscored their opposition 9-4 in their last two games (2-0-0) and will turn to Vejmelka between the pipes on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 28-year-old Vejmelka is putting up career-best numbers, posting a stellar 2.35 GAA and .917 SV% in 14 appearances (4-7-1). He has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last seven (3-3-1), posting a .919 SV%. Utah enters Tuesday's contest as slight -106 home favorites against a Minnesota club coming off a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

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

The Coyotes have outscored their opposition 9-4 in their last two games (2-0-0) and will likely turn to Vejmelka between the pipes on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 28-year-old Vejmelka is putting up career-best numbers, posting a stellar 2.35 GAA and .917 SV% in 14 appearances (4-7-1). He has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last seven (3-3-1), posting a .919 SV%. Utah enters Tuesday's contest as slight -106 home favorites against a Minnesota club coming off a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Karel Vejmelka
Ingram (upper-body) is not close to returning to Utah's lineup.

The 27-year-old Ingram is battling an upper-body injury, originally not believed to be dealing with a serious injury, is sporting an ugly 3.61 GAA and .871 SV% in 13 games (6-4-3). Luckily for Utah HC, Karel Vejmelka has stepped in and been tremendous between the pipes during Ingram's absence.

Connor Ingram