After starting goaltender Connor Ingram suffered an upper-body injury that landed him on injured reserve, the Utah Hockey Club labeled backup goalie Karel Vejmelka as the temporary number one in his absence. Recently called-up Jaxson Stauber was expected to start Sunday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Vejmelka started and played in two consecutive days. The team has been trending downward in the past month, but it’s a team sport and the goalies can’t take all the blame.
A Look at the Utah Hockey Club Goalies
Interesting Stats
Ingram began the season 4-0-1, but it has been a rough stretch as of late. He has just two wins in his last eight games. Although Ingram has more wins than Vejmelka, his numbers are worse. The 27-year-old has a 3.61 goals-against-average and a .871 save percentage. In the last six games, Ingram has faced 160 shots, while Vejmelka has seen 183. In 13 games this season, Ingram has given up 43 goals as opposed to the Vejmelka’s 21, even though he played in three more games.
At this point, Vejmelka has been outperforming the starter Ingram, even with the 2-6 record. He has a 2.30 GAA and a .926 save percentage so far this season, which is third-best in the league. Quite the difference given Ingram was the starter before his injury. The most alarming stat for the goaltenders is goals saved above average (GSAA). Ingram is currently at -10.2, while Vejmelka is at 6.7. A positive number means the goalie is stopping more goals than an average goalie would. Right now, the two are the exact opposite of each other and it’s puzzling how Vejmelka has put up these numbers despite Utah’s struggles. Utah sits fifth in the Central Division with a 9-10-3 record.
Vejmelka’s Versatility
Since taking over for Ingram, Vejmelka has been busy tending the crease. He is being tasked with more starts now and has looked sharp in the interim. Utah is putting a lot of trust in the 28-year-old netminder, who most recently made 32 saves in the 3-2 loss to the Maple Leafs. Compared to other seasons, Vejmelka’s metrics are some of the best he’s had to start a season. His career save percentage and goals against average are .900 and 3.42 respectively. His biggest game was the 49 save win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
In spite of Utah’s skid, Vejmelka being the standout says a lot about how the team has played. Whether it’s too many shots against, not enough shots for, or too many penalties, Utah has issues. Vejmelka has been able to keep Utah in games that were mostly out of reach. Especially in the second period against the Maple Leafs where Utah was outshot 16-6. These persisting issues have made Ingram’s and Vejmelka’s jobs more difficult. There were a few soft goals given up by each, but the goalies can’t be blamed for the lack of offence and defence. If Vejmelka can keep up the form he’s in right now, there’s a chance he could get more starts the future.
What’s Next For Utah Hockey Club Goalies?
Despite all the numbers, it’s not entirely the fault of the Utah Hockey Club goalies. It’s no secret Utah has been a struggling team in recent games and the results have shown it. The team has had problems in every area for a while and it’s made games tougher for their goalies. Vejmelka can only stop so many pucks and when the offence scores two goals or less, the odds of winning aren’t high. The goalie can only steal so many games, but that type of play isn’t sustainable.
Utah’s offence needs to start generating more shifts in the offensive zone and the defence needs to limit the costly turnovers. The goalie needs support on both sides of the ice to keep the puck out of the net. Vejmelka will remain the starter until Ingram is cleared to return.
Main photo by: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
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