André Tourigny wanted to get a message across ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames.
Instead of fielding questions from the reporters, Utah Hockey Club’s coach laid out the reason for goaltender Karel Vejmelka’s grueling workload of late.
“You ask me a lot about the load management of Vej,” Tourigny said. “We are fighting for our lives every night and you want us to not put our best lineup on the ice? That makes no sense. … We are fighting to get the right to play game No. 83.”
Utah Hockey Club, following its 3-1 win over the Flames on Tuesday, sat eight points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. A bit of a lofty goal to secure a postseason berth? Sure. But Tourigny and his group have not given up hope — that is what is informing his personnel decisions.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club head coach Andre Tourigny calls out during the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 24, 2025.
“If we get in the playoffs, we get on a run, we’re in the semifinal of Game 6 and I tell you, ‘Load management with Vej. We’ll play the backup tonight.’ How would you assess my decision?” Tourigny said.
Well, probably quite poorly.
And so, Utah wheeled out Vejmelka for his 18th consecutive start on Tuesday. It marked the longest streak by any NHL goaltender since 2019 (Darcy Kuemper started in 22 straight games for, ironically, the Arizona Coyotes).
The 28-year-old Vejmelka posted a .970 save percentage and allowed just one goal in the win over the Flames. It contributed to his cumulative .905 SV% and 2.56 goals allowed average through 52 games this season. Vejmelka’s 33 stops on 34 Calgary shots boosted his team to a needed two points.
“I feel pretty normal. Decent. I don’t really feel like I’ve played that long,” Vejmelka said. “It’s fun to play actually. I’ve been playing better and better, which is great to know. I like to play under pressure. It’s part of it and I really enjoy it.”
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club celebrates their victory over the Calgary Flames during the game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Kevin Stenlund opened the scoring for Utah late in the first period. Alex Kerfoot worked the puck down low along the boards before sliding it out to his linemate in the slot. Stenlund one-timed the feed for the 1-0 advantage at 17:46 — it marked the center’s 12th goal of the season, which is a new career-high. Kerfoot also logged his fourth point in two games.
A possible Calgary scoring play was reviewed at the beginning of the second period but it was determined that the puck did not cross the goal line; Vejmelka had made the save.
Before this streak, he had never started more than eight consecutive games, which he did in the 2021-22 season. And yet, now 10 games above that mark, he is still making game-saving plays. It is a somewhat reassuring reality for the Club after extending Vejmelka for five years in March.
“Vej in the past has been known for when he gets tired he has kind of a difficult time. That was important for us to go through that and learn to battle through,” Tourigny said. “If we’re a 15, 16, 20, 24-game run in the playoffs, he needs to be able to sustain and it’s not easy. It’s tough mentally and it’s tough physically. What he’s going through now will help when that will happen. He will have been through it.”
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) as Utah Hockey Club hosts the Minnesota Wild, NHL hockey in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
Utah quickly took its good fortune from the Vejmelka save and went the other way. Nick Schmaltz broke up a Calgary rush at center ice and pushed the puck up to Barrett Hayton to enter the offensive zone. Hayton dropped it to Sean Durzi and went to the net. He received the defenseman’s ensuing pass and back-handed it in for the 2-0 lift at 2:25 and his 18th goal of the year.
“There’s no lack of motivation right now. Every night’s a war for us and a playoff game. We’re just focused on that,” Hayton said. “We’re just worried about our own business. At the end of the day, that’s all we can control.”
The Flames cut Utah’s lead in half at 13:00. Ian Cole mishandled the puck in his own end which allowed Calgary to regain possession and led to Rasmus Andersson’s slap shot from the point that beat Vejmelka to make it 2-1. Clayton Keller’s empty-net goal at 19:42 of the third period, though, sealed the 3-1 victory.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club defenseman John Marino (6) looks to pass the puck against the Calgary Flames during the game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Vejmelka will likely start again Thursday, with Utah still in playoff contention. It is all about recovery now. Utah will not practice on Wednesday and Vejmelka has a routine he has stuck to when he has time to rest.
“Get my body ready for the next day. Just trying to be a professional,” Vejmelka said. “A lot of stretches, a lot of treatment. Our trainers did a good job every time. They’re always [here] for us. That’s a big part of it too. I like to do hot tub, cold tub — get my body a little bit relaxed. That’s what I like.”
The players in the Utah locker room have not counted themselves out just yet. Vejmelka is a major reason why.
“That’s the point — we will never quit. That’s what you want to raise. That’s what you want to be as a team,” Tourigny said. “If one day we aspire to win the Stanley Cup with Vej in the net, he will play 20-odd games in a row. Let’s say it’s repetition for the big moment.”
