Karel Vejmelka skated out for his fourth consecutive start.
After rolling with a goaltender rotation for over a month with Connor Ingram, Utah Hockey Club has put its confidence in Vejmelka to shut it down in high-stakes games as the playoff picture looms.
While Vejmelka’s 26-save performance was not enough to pull out a win against the New Jersey Devils Saturday at Delta Center — Utah lost 3-1 — he has given his team a chance to win on a nightly basis. It has been an all-important attribute as the Club vies for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
“At this point, we’re desperate for wins, we’re desperate for points and we go one day at a time,” head coach André Tourigny said. “When he’s fresh, when he’s energized — [Vejmelka] performs really well.”
Vejmelka has posted a .932 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average in the last four games — allowing just one goal against in three of those matchups. His overall stats for the season through 38 games are a .910 SV% and 2.45 GAA.
(Nick Wass | AP) Utah Hockey Club right wing Josh Doan (91) and goaltender Karel Vejmelka, right, celebrate after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Washington.
The 28-year-old has previously said he feels his best — physically and mentally — when playing on a nightly basis. Any player would agree with that. Vejmelka has now been given the leeway to find the consistent form he had earlier in the season when Ingram was away.
Vejmelka’s early save on Timo Meier’s breakaway on Saturday gave his team momentum. He was also a key piece of Utah’s penalty kill.
“The first period I think we were in deep water and he made key saves. He kept us there and allowed us to come back and tie the game,” Tourigny said. “What’s important is to have a good goaltender every night and we have that.”
Nico Hischier gave his team a first-period lead. The Devils’ captain earned inside ice in front of the Utah crease and was there to bat in the rebound of Luke Hughes’ shot from the point to make it 1-0 at 9:34.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98), in NHL action between the Utah Hockey Club and the San Jose Sharks, at the Delta Center, on Friday, Jan 10, 2025.
Utah looked a bit disjointed in the first – turnovers were plenty and it got seven shots on goal off. But, it did not cause much damage, partially because of Vejmelka’s steadiness, and the Club came back to find the equalizer in the middle frame.
“He’s been unreal all season long. He’s been a rock back there for us and an unbelievable goalie,” Mikhail Sergachev said. “Obviously gives us confidence to play when you have a great goalie back there. He makes timeless saves for us.”
Liam O’Brien — who fought New Jersey’s Brenden Dillon in the opening frame — took a hit along the boards from Curtis Lazar but quickly popped up and pushed the puck over to Sergachev in the slot. The defenseman unleashed a one-timer to tie things 1-1 at 10:03 of the second and log his 11th goal of the season, which is a new career-high. It was also Sergachev’s third point in two games.
“Hell of a pass by Tuna. I was in the slot so I had to shoot it,” Sergachev said. “Obviously I want to score as many as possible but it’s all about winning for me. If I can contribute scoring goals, great. If not, I’ll play defense. I’m not chasing goals.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club center Liam O'Brien (38) as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Minnesota Wild, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
O’Brien’s assist marked his first-ever point at Delta Center and his second of the year. By the end of two periods, the forward had one point, shot, block and three hits through just 4:37 of total ice ahead of the third.
“For us, it’s just about being responsible,” O’Brien said of his line’s purpose in those minutes. “Making good puck decisions, chipping in offensively when we can but being physical and grinding the other team down.”
An untimely turnover from Nick Schmaltz allowed the Devils to pull ahead just 14 seconds into the third period. Schmaltz attempted to pass the puck up to Clayton Keller but it instead landed on Johnathan Kovacevic’s stick and he sent it the other way. Meier snapped it from the left circle for the 2-1 scoreline.
New Jersey’s Lazar proceeded to wire one between Vejmelka’s shoulder and the pipe for a 3-1 boost at 12:44 which put the game too far out of reach for Utah to make a comeback.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) André Tourigny as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Minnesota Wild, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
“In life you win or you learn,” Tourigny said. “When you are in those kinds of games you have to rise to the occasion. I think our level of focus and detail — what we knew we [could] do — were not high enough.”
Utah now has four days before its next game – which is Thursday on the road against the Detroit Red Wings – to rest, recover and regroup for the final 21 games of the regular season.
“I think we know where we stand here in the standings,” O’Brien said. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem with that — we’ll be looking forward to the next game and be ready to go.”
