Vanecek, who was acquired by San Jose from New Jersey on Friday, might be done for the remainder of the season due to his lower-body injury, James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now reports Friday.
Vanecek has a 17-9-3 record, 3.18 GAA and .890 save percentage in 32 contests this season. Although the Sharks might not get any use out of him in 2023-24, the goaltender has another season remaining on his three-year, $10.2 million contract.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Traded to Sharks
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Vanecek (lower body) and a seventh-round pick were traded to San Jose from New Jersey in exchange for Kaapo Kahkonen on Friday, per Jeff Marek of Sportsnet.
Vanecek has a 17-9-3 record, 3.18 GAA and .890 save percentage in 32 outings in 2023-24. He hasn't played since Feb. 10 because of the injury. If and when Vanecek is able to get healthy, he might get an opportunity to serve as the Sharks' No. 1 goaltender.
Vanecek (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
In a corresponding move, Jonas Siegenthaler (foot) was activated from the IR list. Vanecek will miss his fifth consecutive contest Tuesday in Washington, and it is unclear when he will be able to return. Nico Daws is likely to see the majority of the starts until Vanecek is deemed fit to play.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Ruled out next two games
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Vanecek (lower body) won't be available for the Devils' next two contests, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports Thursday.
Vanecek has reportedly recovered from an illness that was hampering his recovery but is still dealing with his lower-body problem. With the Czech backstop on the shelf, Nico Daws will get the nod versus the Kings on Thursday and could also be between the pipes for Saturday's Stadium Series matchup with Philadelphia.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Not suiting up Tuesday
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Vanecek (lower body/illness) won't dress for Tuesday's game versus the Predators, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Nico Daws is starting in Nashville and Akira Schmid is the backup, leaving Vanecek out of action for a second straight game. It's unclear which issue is keeping Vanecek out this time, though the lower-body injury is likely of more concern than the illness even though both are expected to be short-term ailments. The 28-year-old's next chance to play is Thursday versus the Kings.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Under the weather and injured
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Vanecek is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury and an illness, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
With Vanecek sidelined, Nico Daws is set to get the start in goal Monday against the Kraken. According to head coach Lindy Ruff, "it might be a day or two" until Vanecek is ready to return, which suggests there's still a chance the 28-year-old netminder will be available against the Predators on Tuesday.
Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Loses close game in overtime
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Vanecek allowed only one goal on 32 shots in Saturday's 1-0 overtime loss to the Hurricanes.
It must have been heart-wrenching for Vanecek, who kicked aside 31 straight shots in the goaltending duel with Pyotr Kochetkov until Sebastian Aho got one by him in overtime. Vanecek stopped all five power-play shots that he faced and ended with a .969 save percentage in 63:40 TOI. In four straight starts, he has allowed only 12 goals on 139 shots for a .914 save percentage, but he has only one win during that time. After such a solid outing, Vanecek will probably back between the pipes at home against the Kraken on Monday.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Starting versus Hurricanes
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Vanecek will protect the road goal Saturday versus the Hurricanes, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Vanecek will make his fourth straight start despite allowing 11 goals on 107 shots over his previous three outings. His last appearance against the Hurricanes on Jan. 25 was a relief outing in which he stopped all 11 shots he faced. For now, it appears Vanecek has reclaimed the No. 1 job over Nico Daws, but it's a tenuous grip for the veteran netminder.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Third straight start
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Vanecek made 25 saves Thursday in a 5-3 loss to the Flames.
It was Vanecek's third straight start (1-2-0), and he has allowed 11 goals in that span. The Devils were good in the first, bad in the second and then chasing the Flames in the third. Vanecek wasn't awful, but he doesn't seem to have the ability to steal games. And his 3.26 GAA and .887 save percentage don't inspire confidence. The Devils could make a move for a goalie by the deadline and that would likely chase Vanecek to the bench. Don't count on him if the Devils somehow start to push for more horsepower with an eye on the postseason.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Set to start Thursday
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Vanecek is slated to get the starting nod against the Flames at home Thursday, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports
Vanecek will be between the pipes for his fifth straight contest despite posting a 3.35 GAA and a .901 save percentage over his last four outings. Still, the 28-year-old backstop walked away with a 2-1-0 record and seems to have retaken the starting job from Nico Daws.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Defeats Avalanche
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Vanecek stopped 35 of 38 shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Avalanche.
Vanecek faced a tough test, but outside of giving up two goals in 29 seconds in the third period, he fared well. The 28-year-old has won three of his last four starts despite allowing 13 goals in that span. He's now at 17-8-2 with a 3.23 GAA and an .888 save percentage through 30 outings this season. Vanecek and Nico Daws were splitting starts just before the All-Star break, but it's possible Vanecek is given a chance to reclaim the No. 1 job soon. The Devils host the Flames on Thursday.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Tending twine Tuesday
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Vanecek will patrol the home crease Tuesday against Colorado, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.
Vanecek has gone 3-1-1 with an .899 save percentage over his past six appearances. Through 29 games played this season, he has posted a 16-8-2 record with a 3.24 GAA and an .886 save percentage. The Avalanche sit second in the league this campaign with 3.78 goals per contest.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Solid not good enough
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Vanecek made 36 saves on 40 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Lightning on Saturday.
He played decently enough, but 2023-24 has been a struggle. His .886 save percentage and 3.24 GAA are a big part of why the Devils don't currently have a playoff spot. Vanecek is 3-2-1 in his last six starts, and he has allowed four or more goals four times in that span. It's little wonder why New Jersey has been in the market for another goalie.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Expected to start Saturday
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Vanecek will guard the road net against Tampa Bay on Saturday, per Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site.
Vanecek has a 16-7-2 record, 3.21 GAA and .885 save percentage in 28 outings in 2023-24. He has won three of his past four starts despite allowing 12 goals on 107 shots during that span. Tampa Bay is tied for seventh offensively this campaign with 3.43 goals per game, so this could be a difficult matchup for Vanecek.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Makes 11 saves in relief
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Vanecek stopped 11 Hurricanes shots in a relief appearance during a 3-2 loss to Carolina on Thursday.
Vanecek entered the game early in the second period after Nico Daws surrendered three goals on 12 shots. With the Devils down 3-0 when Vanecek entered the contest, he ultimately wasn't charged with the loss. The 28-year-old netminder has a 16-7-2 record, 3.21 GAA and .885 save percentage in 28 outings this season. Daws has been struggling lately, which increases the chances that Vanecek will get the nod in Saturday's road game versus Tampa Bay.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Hangs on for overtime victory
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Vanecek allowed five goals on 32 shots in Monday's 6-5 overtime win against the Golden Knights.
Vanecek got off to a shaky start, surrendering an early first-period tally, then his offense staked him to a 3-1 lead. He allowed four unanswered goals in the second period, but once again his offense bailed him out. Luckily for Vanecek, Tyler Toffoli and Curtis Lazar were on another plane, and the veteran Toffoli made a winner of the goaltender at 2:35 of overtime to send the crowd away happy. Vanecek has a 16-7-2 record, 3.28 GAA and .883 save percentage in 27 appearances in 2023-24. This was the 11th occasion this season in which he surrendered at least four markers.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Guarding cage Monday
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Vanecek will get the starting nod for Monday's home matchup against Vegas, Amanda Stein of the Devils' official site reports.
Vanecek is coming off one of his best performances of the year, stopping 29 of 30 shots in a win over the Blue Jackets on Friday. However, the 28-year-old hasn't put together consecutive wins since Dec. 23 and 27. Over his last four outings, he's coughed up 12 goals on 106 shots. Vanecek is 15-7-2 with a 3.22 GAA and an .885 save percentage through 26 games this season.
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Devils' Vitek Vanecek: Holds Blue Jackets to one goal
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Vanecek stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 4-1 win over Columbus on Friday.
Vanecek was beaten by Cole Sillinger just 4:21 into the contest, but he shook it off and was perfect for the rest of the night. Vanecek, who picked up just his second win in January, improved to 15-7-2 with a 3.22 GAA and an .885 save percentage in 26 outings in 2023-24. The 28-year-old's overall struggles this campaign have allowed Nico Daws to challenge for the starting gig, and it will take more than one strong start out of Vanecek to reassert himself as the team's clear No. 1 goalie.
