Utah Hockey Club News

Ingram has been terrific for the Coyotes this season, winning five of the team's seven games, posting a 2.87 GAA and .911 SV%, noticeably outperforming teammate Karel Vejmelka, despite having played in two fewer games. Ingram looks poised for another strong performance on Thursday as the Coyotes are -117 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has lost six consecutive games (0-4-2), held to three or fewer goals in four of those contests.

With the news that Juuso Valimaki is expected to miss an extended period with an upper-body injury, the Coyotes have opted to recall Kolyachonok from the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL. In 11 games with the Roadrunners, Kolyachonok has three points (2G / 1A) and a +5 plus/minus rating. He was the 52nd overall pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

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.

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.

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.

With Jack McBain (lower-body) out week-to-week, the Coyotes have recalled Kelemen from the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL. The 24-year-old Slovak has six points (2G / 4A) in 11 games with the Roadrunners this season and recorded one point (1G / 0A) along with 23 penalty minutes in a 14-game stint with the Coyotes in the 2022-23 season.

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).

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).

Kesserling will join the Coyotes after being recalled from the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL, where he has been held without a point in six games. Kesserling played nine games with the Coyotes last season, registering three points (0G / 3A) and 12 hits while averaging 17:06 time-on-ice.

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).

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).

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).

Tyler Tucker will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Robert Bortuzzo to return to the Blues' lineup. Bortuzzo has only played two games this season, registering seven penalty minutes and zero points while averaging 9:38 time-on-ice.

Ingram will return to the Coyotes crease on Thursday after Karel Vejmelka served between the pipes for Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss in Anaheim. Ingram's coming off his best start of the young season, stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced in Monday's 8-1 victory over the Blackhawks. The 26-year-old netminder owns a .914 SV% and a 2.51 GAA to go along with his 2-1-0 record across four appearances on the season. Ingram and the Coyotes are -130 favourites over the Canadiens on Thursday.

The even rotation between the pipes will continue for the Coyotes on Wednesday as Vejmelka will start for the fifth time in nine games. Despite a 2-3-0 record, Vejemelka has been terrific to start the season for the Coyotes, posting a 2.51 GAA and .926 SV% and has played a big part in the Coyotes ranking seventh defensively, allowing an average of only 2.63 goals allowed per game, a stark difference to last season's 24th-ranked 3.60. The Coyotes are -128 road favourites on Wednesday against an Anaheim Ducks team that has also shown improvements this season as they are off to a 5-4-1 start.

Crouse was absent Friday vs. Los Angeles and was a game-time decision for Monday's game against the Blackhawks. The 26-year-old has struggled out of the gate thus far in 2023-24, with only an assist, eight SOG, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through six games.