Kesselring has been a mainstay on Utah's blueline this season, and will play on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames despite missing practice on Tuesday due to an illness. The 24-year-old Kesselring is off to a hot start, with five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games this season.
Maata was acquired yesterday in a trade from the Detroit Red Wings to address their injuries on the blue line, namely John Marino (back) and Sean Durzi (shoulder), who are out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. Maatta, in the final year of a two-year, $3.0M AAV deal, has no points, three SOG, seven blocked shots, and three hits in seven games this season.
Utah's blueline has been shorthanded after John Marino went back surgery and Sean Durzi had shoulder surgery, so they've added an NHL-calibre defenseman to help fill the void. Maatta, who is in the final year of a two-year, $3.0M AAV deal, has no points, three SOG, seven blocked shots and three hits in seven games this season.
Kesselring has been a mainstay on Utah's blueline this season, but could be at jeopardy of missing his first game of the season on Wednesday as he is battling an illness. The 24-year-old Kesselring is off to a hot start, with five points (2G / 3A) in 10 games this season.
Doan is averaging 13:05 time-on-ice and has only two points (1G / 1A) in nine games this season after a considerably more productive trial run last season when he scored nine points (5G / 4A) in 11 games. After making him a healthy scratch on Monday, Utah is opting to send him down to Tucson where he can continue to play and further his development.
After being sidelined for the last five games, O'Brien will draw into the lineup for his third game this season, replacing Josh Doan. The heavy-hitting O'Brien has been held off the scoresheet in two games this season but has tallied 10 hits.
Liam O'Brien will draw into Utah's lineup on Monday in favor of Doan, who will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season. The 22-year-old Doan is averaging 13:05 time-on-ice and has only two points (1G / 1A) in nine games this season after a considerably more productive trial run last season when he scored nine points (5G / 4A) in 11 games.
Utah HC will attempt to snap a season-worst three-game losing skid (0-3-0) on Monday with Ingram between the pipes. Ingram has allowed four or more goals in four of his last six games (3-2-1), posting an awful .851 SV%, but continues to hold control of the starter's crease over Karel Vejmelka in Utah. Utah enters the action on Monday as sizeable -258 home favorites against a San Jose Sharks club that has yet to win a game (0-7-2) and has a league-worst -21 goal differential.
Bjugstad suffered an upper-body in the preseason and has missed the first eight games of the season but will make his debut on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 32-year-old Bjugstad had a career-high 22 goals in 76 games last season.
Allard was a fifth-round pick of Utah HC in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has spent the last four seasons in the OHL playing for the Soo Greyhounds, including a 44-point campaign last season (18G / 26A).
Maatta will re-enter the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game on Long Island. Maatta is yet to register a point through five games this season.
Bortuzzo will serve as a healthy scratch on Thursday to welcome Maveric Lamoureux into the lineup for his NHL debut. The 35-year-old Bortuzzo has six penalty minutes and a -2 plus/minus while averaging 11:58 time-on-ice through three games this season.
Due to a decimated defensive core, namely Sean Durzi (shoulder) and John Marino (lower-back) being sidelined for the next several months, Utah HC recalled Lamoureux from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL) to make his NHL debut. The 20-year-old Lamoureux was drafted 29th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and is currently playing his first professional season, tallying three points (2G / 1A) in his first four games with Tuscon.
After starting their season by winning three straight games, the Utah Hockey Club has lost three of their last four and will give Vejmelka his second start of the season on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. Vejmelka entered Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators in relief of Connor Ingram and saved all 14 shots he faced. The 28-year-old Vejmelka has been limited to only 98 minutes of action through seven games this season but has been solid, posting a 1.83 GAA and .935 SV%. Utah HC enters the action on Thursday as +135 home underdogs against Colorado.
Koch made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes last season, registering 10 penalty minutes in one game. The undrafted 27-year-old Slovak made his North American debut last season, scoring 15 points (1G / 14A) in 63 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL). In a corresponding move, Utah HC has recalled Maveric Lamoureux from Tuscon.
