Utah Mammoth News

Utah has been one of the NHL's best defensive teams early in the 2025-26 season, allowing only 13 goals (2.17 GA / GP) through six games (5-1-0), and will roll with Vejmelka between the pipes on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old Czech goalie is off to a great start to the season, posting a solid 2.20 GAA and .911 SV% in five games (4-1-0). Utah enters Thursday's outing as a slight +104 road underdog against a St. Louis team with a 3-2-1 record.

With Kirby Dach (lower body) returning from a three-game absence, Roy will head to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Roy made his season debut in Montreal's previous game, playing 7:58 time-on-ice.

Utah (4-2-0) is off to a strong start early in the 2025-26 season, among the top teams in the Central Division. They currently rank among the stingiest defensive teams, allowing only 2.17 goals per game. Vejmelka, who returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, has been an active contributor to Utah's defensive prowess, posting a 2.00 GAA and .912 SV% in four outings (3-1-0). That said, Utah enters Tuesday's contest as +128 home underdogs against a Colorado team that leads the Central Division.

Utah (4-2-0) is off to a strong start early in the 2025-26 season, among the top teams in the Central Division. They currently rank among the stingiest defensive teams, allowing only 2.17 goals per game. Vejmelka, who likely returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, has been an active contributor to Utah's defensive prowess, posting a 2.00 GAA and .912 SV% in four outings (3-1-0). That said, Utah enters Tuesday's contest as +128 home underdogs against a Colorado team that leads the Central Division.

Jones was recalled from the Rochester Americans (AHL) last week but did not draw into the Sabres' lineup. The 25-year-old defenseman posted career highs in games played (46), points (11), PIMs (24) and SOG (51) with the New York Rangers last season.

Roy has been used sparingly at the NHL level by the Canadiens the previous two season, scoring 11 points (6G / 5A) in 35 combined games, and could draw into the lineup for the first time in 2025-26 after being recalled from Laval (AHL) on Tuesday. The 22-year-old spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 35 points (20G / 15A) in 47 games with Laval.

Utah's defensive prowess has been on display early in the 2025-26 season, limiting its opposition to only eight total goals. However, they have only translated their defensive effectiveness into a 2-2-0 record due to difficulties offensively, only scoring eight goals in the process. Vejmelka will likely be between the pipes on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, looking to build on an already impressive 1.67 GAA and .929 SV% through three games (2-1-0). The Mammoth enter Friday's contest as sizable -245 home favorites against a Sharks team searching for their first win this season (0-1-2).

With Liam O'Brien (undisclosed) making his season debut on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, Yamamoto will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Yamamoto is averaging 11:48 time-on-ice, recording zero points and two shots through four games this season.

O'Brien was sidelined for most of training camp and missed the first four games of the season but will draw into the lineup on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. The 31-year-old O'Brien appeared in 28 games for Utah in 2024-25, picking up two assists and 50 PIMs alongside 34 SOG. Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch to accommodate O'Brien's return to the lineup.

Utah's defensive prowess has been on display early in the 2025-26 season, limiting its opposition to only eight total goals. However, they have only translated their defensive effectiveness into a 2-2-0 record due to difficulties offensively, only scoring eight goals in the process. Vejmelka will likely be between the pipes on Friday against the San Jose Sharks, looking to build on an already impressive 1.67 GAA and .929 SV% through three games (2-1-0). The Mammoth enter Friday's contest as sizable -245 home favorites against a Sharks team searching for their first win this season (0-1-2).

After getting the night off in Utah's most recent outing, Vejmelka will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Vejmelka has been solid early in the 2025-26 season but has only been rewarded with a 1-1-0 record, despite an impressive 1.99 GAA and .920 SV%. The Czech goaltending tandem of Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek should continue to be led by Vejmelka, unless his play dictates otherwise. The Mammoth enters Wednesday's contest as sizable -220 home favorites against a Flames team that has been outscored 9-16 in their first four games (1-3-0).

After getting the night off in Utah's most recent outing, Vejmelka will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Vejmelka has been solid early in the 2025-26 season but has only been rewarded with a 1-1-0 record, despite an impressive 1.99 GAA and .920 SV%. The Czech goaltending tandem of Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek should continue to be led by Vejmelka, unless his play dictates otherwise. The Mammoth enters Wednesday's contest as sizable -220 home favorites against a Flames team that has been outscored 9-16 in their first four games (1-3-0).

Trocheck suffered an upper-body injury in the Rangers' second game of the season. He was given a week-to-week return timeline and will officially be out of the lineup for at least a month after being placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve. The 32-year-old Trocheck scored 59 points (26G / 33A) in 82 games last season. His offensive prowess will be greatly missed on a Rangers team that has already been shut out in three of its first five games (2-3-0).

Hayton battled an undisclosed injury through the latter half of the preseason and has missed Utah's first two games of the season, but looks set to play on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Hayton has shown glimpses of strong productivity but has lacked consistency. He scored 46 points (20G / 26A) in 82 games last season.

Michael Carcone will make his season debut on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks, resulting in Yamamoto being a healthy scratch. Yamamoto spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but scored three points (2G / 1A) in 12 games with Utah last season. The 27-year-old forward has been held off the scoresheet through two games in 2025-26.

Kailer Yamamoto will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing Carcone to draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 29-year-old Carcone scored a career-high 21 goals in 2023-24 but followed that up with only seven goals last season in 2024-25.

Hayton battled an undisclosed injury through the latter half of the preseason and has missed Utah's first two games of the season, but could play on Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Hayton has shown glimpses of strong productivity but has lacked consistency. He scored 46 points (20G / 26A) in 82 games last season.