Michael Carcone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, sending O'Brien to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old O'Brien is averaging 9:17 time-on-ice, recording zero points, 19 penalty minutes, and 36 hits in nine games this season.
After a rare night off in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders, Vejmelka will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite recording only one win in his last three outings (1-1-1), Vejmelka has been terrific lately, allowing only six combined goals and posting a solid .924 SV%. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.38 GAA and .916 SV% in 26 appearances this season (10-11-3).
Marino was acquired in a trade from the New Jersey Devils in the offseason but underwent surgery that has cost him the first three months of the season. The 27-year-old Marino had four goals, 25 points, 41 PIMs and 57 SOG in 75 games played with New Jersey in 2023-24.
Connor Ingram has returned from an upper-body injury and subsequent conditioning stint with Tuscon (AHL) but will serve as the backup to Vejmelka on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Vejmelka has an impressive 2.43 GAA and .915 SV% in 25 games this season (9-11-3). He has lost four of his last five (1-4-1), posting a .907 SV%. Utah HC enters Friday's contest as significant -270 home favorites against a Sharks club that has failed to score more than three goals in 11 straight games (2-8-1).
DeSimone is an undrafted 30-year-old defenseman that has seven points (2G / 5A) in 38 career NHL games. He started the season with the New Jersey Devils but never drew into the lineup for an NHL game and was eventually placed on waivers earlier this month.
Dylan Guenther (lower body) will be out of the lineup indefinitely, resulting in Utah HC recalled Doan from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL). The 22-year-old Doan played nine games with Utah earlier this season, scoring two points (1G / 1A), but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring 21 points (8G / 13A) in 25 games with Tuscon.
Guenther showed no signs of an injury in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, recording 16:47 time-on-ice, but is battling a lower-body ailment that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. The 21-year-old Guenther has 34 points (16G / 18A) in 40 games this season but has only scored two (0G / 2A) in his past eight. Utah HC has recalled Josh Doan from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL) as Guenther's replacement.
With Connor Ingram (upper body) returning from nearly a two-month absence, Stauber has been reassigned to the Tuscon Roadrunners. The 25-year-old Stauber played well in limited action with Utah HC, posting a 2.23 GAA and .925 SV% in four games (2-1-1).
Ingram has not played an NHL game since suffering an upper-body injury on November 18th, missing 18 games, but returns from the AHL after a one-game conditioning stint with the Tuscon Roadrunners where he saved 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a victory. Utah HC will hope that the forced time off helped Ingram rediscover his game from a season ago as he had struggled before his injury, sporting an ugly 3.61 GAA and .871 SV% in 13 games (6-4-3).
Utah HC has lost six of their last seven games (1-5-1) and will turn to Vejmelka for a third straight contest on Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. Vejmelka allowed three goals on 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old Czech netminder has a 2.45 GAA and .914 SV% in 24 games this season (9-10-3).
After winning four straight, Utah HC has lost five in a row and will attempt to right the ship in their first game of 2025, with Vejmelka between the pipes. Despite losing his last three games, Vejmelka has been serviceable, posting a .906 SV%. He has a 2.40 GAA and .916 SV% in 22 appearances this season (8-10-2). Utah HC enters Thursday's contest as -120 road favorites against a Calgary Flames club coming off a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks.
