Utah Hockey Club News

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.

Ingram will return to the Coyotes crease for the fourth time this season after he was pulled just 12 minutes into his last start against the Rangers on Tuesday. Ingram surrendered three goals on just nine shots before being lifted in favour of Karel Vejmelka in what was by far Ingram's worst start of the young season. The 26-year-old netminder will be hoping to regain the form he flashed in his first two starts of the season, when he stopped 50 of the combined 54 shots he faced (.926 SV%). He draws a dream matchup tonight with the Coyotes being -190 favourites at home over the Blackhawks.

McCartney was recalled from the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL where has been held pointless in five games this season. The 22-year-old, seventh-round pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has not played at the NHL level since the 2021-22 season.

Maata will be scratched to make room for the return of Jeff Petry. In seven games this season, Maata has two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 15:31 time-on-ice, primarily on the third defensive pairing.

Crouse was absent from Thursday's team practice as he dealt with an illness and was a game-time decision Friday vs. Los Angeles. 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.

Crouse was absent from Thursday's team practice as he dealt with an illness and will now be a game-time decision Friday vs. Los Angeles. 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.

Vejmelka lines up to face the Los Angeles Kings for a second straight contest after losing in overtime to them in his previous start 2-1 after stopping 16 of 18 shots (.889 SV%). The 27-year-old has been sensational when called upon in 2023-24, with his 2-2-0 record, .942 SV% and 1.85 GAA. He takes on Los Angeles again Friday, who has won three of their last four games and are second in the NHL in goals per game (4.5).

Bortuzzo has yet to appear in any of the Blues' first five games but will draw into the lineup for the first time in 2023-24 Thursday as they take on Calgary. The 34-year-old had two goals, three assists, 30 SOG, 29 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 43 games played in 2022-23.

Carcone was forced to exit the Coyotes' previous game vs. Anaheim after just six shifts and 4:17 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and was a game-time decision Tuesday after wearing a non-contact jersey in practice Monday. The 27-year-old is in his third NHL season and has a goal, four SOG, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through four games thus far in 2023-24.

Carcone was forced to exit the Coyotes' previous game vs. Anaheim after just six shifts and 4:17 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and will be a game-time decision Tuesday after wearing a non-contact jersey in practice Monday. The 27-year-old is in his third NHL season and has a goal, four SOG, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through four games thus far in 2023-24.

Ingram will return to the crease on Tuesday for his third game, as the Coyotes continue to split time between their two netminders early this season. Ingram has played well to start the season, posting a 2.02 GAA and .926 SV% in two games (1-1-0). The Coyotes are +161 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that is scoring (4.20 GF/GP) almost as much as they are allowing (3.80 GA/GP).

Walker returns to Iowa after a brief cameo with the Wild following the placement of Alex Goligoski on LTIR. In two games with Minnesota, Walker registered zero points and one shot on goal with an ATOI of 10:05. He'll return to the AHL where he's also been held pointless in two appearances this season.

Vejmelka lost unfortunately his previous start after stopping 33 of 34 shots against (.971 SV%) and will start Saturday vs. Anaheim. The 27-year-old has had a sensational two starts thus far in 2023-24, with a 1-1-0 record, .943 SV% and a 1.95 GAA. He takes on the Anaheim Ducks, who have lost two of their first three games and are ranked 15th in the NHL in goals for (3.0).

Ingram has served as backup goalie to Karel Vejmelka in two of three games this season but will return to the pipes on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. In his only game thus far, Ingram came short of securing a victory for the Coyotes despite allowing only two goals on 28 shots in a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers. Early on, the Coyotes seem committed to a two-goalie system but any false step could give more security to the other. The Coyotes are slight -102 road underdogs against a Blue team that has only scored two goals in their first two games (1-0-1).

Walker was yet to pick up a point in two games with Iowa (AHL) and is a -4 plus/minus after being recalled to Minnesota Wednesday with the news that Alex Goligoski will be heading to the LTIR and will make his season debut Thursday vs. Los Angeles. Walker returns to the Wild lineup, where he had a goal, an assist, eight SOG and a -1 plus/minus in nine games played in his rookie season in 2022-23.

Walker has yet to pick up a point in two games with Iowa (AHL) and is a -4 plus/minus but has been recalled to Minnesota Wednesday with the news that Alex Goligoski will be heading to the LTIR. Walker returns to the Wild, where he had a goal, an assist, eight SOG and a -1 plus/minus in nine games played in his rookie season in 2022-23.

Carcone was a healthy scratch for Arizona's win vs. NYR on Monday but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday as Arizona takes on the New York Islanders. The 27-year-old forward has only appeared in one game this season and failed to pick up any counting stats across 9:10 TOI. He will replace Travis Boyd in the Coyotes' lineup Tuesday.