Vanecek (upper body) will not dress Thursday in St. Louis, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports.
Yaroslav Askarov will make his San Jose debut Thursday, while Mackenzie Blackwood will be the backup. Vanecek is in danger of losing his spot on the roster if Askarov is able to excel at the NHL level. Vanecek is 2-5-1 with a 3.36 GAA and an .899 save percentage in 10 games this season.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Traveling, but out Wednesday
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Vanecek won't dress for Wednesday's road game in Dallas, but he is traveling with the Sharks, per Max Miller of NHL.com.
Vanecek has a 2-5-1 record, 3.36 GAA and .899 save percentage in 10 appearances in 2024-25. He might still be an option for Thursday's tilt in St. Louis given that he's with the team, but in the meantime, Yaroslav Askarov is set to back up Mackenzie Blackwood versus the Stars.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Dealing with upper-body issue
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Vanecek sustained an upper-body injury and remains day-to-day, ruling him out against Detroit on Monday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
With Vanecek on the shelf, the team called up Yaroslav Askarov to serve as the backup to Mackenzie Blackwood in Monday's matchup with Detroit. At this time, it's unclear if Vanecek will travel for the team's upcoming two-game road trip -- if he doesn't, Blackwood and Askarov would likely split the back-to-back.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Suffers injury Saturday
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Vanecek (undisclosed) is questionable to return to Saturday's game versus the Penguins.
Vanecek allowed two goals on nine shots and didn't return for the second period. Mackenzie Blackwood will likely finish off the contest. If Vanecek misses additional time, Yaroslav Askarov could be called up from AHL San Jose.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: First off ice Saturday
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Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice at morning practice and is slated to get the road start in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Max Miller of NHL.com reports.
Vanecek has faced 123 shots in his last three games, allowing only eight goals while going 1-1-1. Overall, the netminder is 2-5-1 with a 3.26 GAA and a .903 save percentage this season. Pittsburgh has struggled this season en route to a 6-10-3 start and ranks 23rd with 2.68 goals per game.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Falls to Philly in shootout
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Vanecek made 40 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped one of three shootout attempts in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Flyers.
The Sharks were staring at a 3-0 deficit early in the second period after Vanecek gave up a breakaway goal to Matvei Michkov, but the veteran netminder kept his focus and gave his team a chance to mount a comeback with some big stops down the stretch -- Philadelphia out-shot San Jose 16-7 in the third period alone. The Sharks' defense remains a problem, and Vanecek has faced 40 or more shots in three of his last five starts, going 2-2-1 during that time with a .912 save percentage but only a 3.33 GAA.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Tending twine Monday
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Vanecek will serve as the starting goaltender for Monday's road matchup against Philadelphia, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Vanecek has been inconsistent over his last two starts, as he turned aside 49 of 50 shots (.980 save percentage) to earn a win over Columbus at home Tuesday before allowing four goals on 30 shots (.867 save percentage) in a home loss to Minnesota on Thursday. However, he'll be between the pipes for the third time in the Sharks' last four games, and he'll attempt to turn things around against the Flyers, who have averaged just 2.53 goals per game to begin the season.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Yields four goals in loss
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Vanecek allowed four goals on 30 shots in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Wild. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.
Vanecek was rewarded with a second straight start after a 49-save effort in an overtime win against the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, but he couldn't replicate his heroics. This was the first time Vanecek has started consecutive games this season, something Mackenzie Blackwood has done on two occasions. That signals Vanecek is still in the backup role, though both goalies should have plenty of playing time in 2024-25. Vanecek is at a 2-5-0 record with a 3.32 GAA and an .898 save percentage over eight appearances (seven starts). The Sharks begin a four-game road trip back east with a visit to the Devils on Sunday, followed by a game in Philadelphia on Monday -- that should allow both goalies to get a start over the next two contests.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Starting against Minnesota
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Vanecek was the first goalie off Thursday, Max Miller of NHL.com reports, indicating that he'll draw the start at home against the Wild.
Vanecek was busy during Tuesday's home matchup against Columbus, turning aside 49 of 50 shots (.980 save percentage) en route to the 2-1 victory. He'll have a chance to keep his momentum going against the Wild, who have scored just three goals over their last two games.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: First off Tuesday
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Vanecek was the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, indicating he will patrol the home crease Tuesday versus Columbus.
Vanecek is coming off a 26-save performance in a 4-2 win over the Kings on Oct. 26. He has a 1-4-0 record with a 3.65 GAA and an .879 save percentage through six appearances this season. Columbus ranks 10th in the league with 3.55 goals per game in 2024-25.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Earns win over Kings
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Vanecek stopped 26 of 28 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Kings.
Vanecek earned his first win of the campaign, and this was just the second time in six outings he's allowed two or fewer goals. The 28-year-old is now at a 1-4-0 record with 20 goals allowed on 165 shots. The Sharks have won two games in a row, but this is likely just a blip on the radar for a team that's in line to struggle for much of the campaign. Vanecek is set to continue sharing the crease with Mackenzie Blackwood as the Sharks go through a five-game homestand.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Starting Tuesday
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Vanecek will patrol the home crease Tuesday against the Kings, per Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News.
Vanecek will get the second half of San Jose's back-to-back after Mackenzie Blackwood played in Monday's 5-4 overtime win over Utah. The 28-year-old Vanecek has posted a mark of 0-4-0 with a 4.00 GAA and an .869 save percentage in five appearances this season. LA has potted 28 goals in nine games during the 2024-25 campaign.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Rough start in Vegas
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Vanecek stopped 35 of 42 shots in Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Golden Knights.
Given the quality of each team's offense and defense, Saturday's result won't surprise anyone. Vanecek is now 0-4-0 through five appearances this season, though seven goals allowed is a new level of bad for the 28-year-old netminder. Mackenzie Blackwood fared a bit better in losses to the Ducks and Kings recently. The Sharks have a back-to-back up next with a road game in Utah on Monday before heading home to host the Kings on Tuesday, so both Vanecek and Blackwood should get a start.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Starting in Vegas
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Vanecek will defend the road net Saturday against the Golden Knights, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Vanecek has surrendered 11 goals on 95 shots en route to a record of 0-3-0 through four appearances this season. Vegas has accounted for 35 goals in eight games this campaign.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Falls to Avalanche
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Vanecek allowed three goals on 21 shots in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Avalanche. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
The Sharks actually played a decent defensive game in front of Vanecek, but a pair of Ross Colton tallies in the first period would be all the Avalanche needed. Vanecek remains winless (0-3-0) with 11 goals allowed on 95 shots over four appearances this season. The Sharks have an 0-4-2 record through six games as a team, and the crease situation could be a win-and-stay-in or a straight alternating pattern. By any token, it's likely Mackenzie Blackwood gets the nod Tuesday in Anaheim, while Vanecek should be penciled in for Thursday's game in Los Angeles.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Guarding crease Sunday
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Vanecek will protect the home crease Sunday versus Colorado, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Vanecek has posted a record of 0-2-0 in three appearances this season while surrendering eight goals on 74 shots. Despite a 1-4-0 start to the 2024-25 campaign, Colorado has accumulated 17 goals across five outings.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Allows three goals in relief outing
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Vanecek stopped 15 of 18 shots in relief of Mackenzie Blackwood in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Jets.
Vanecek fared a little better than his teammate in this contest, but neither goalie put in an effort to write home about. The 28-year-old Vanecek wasn't on the hook for the loss, as the Sharks were unable to cover the damage from Blackwood's poor start. Vanecek has allowed eight goals on 74 shots across three appearances so far. With the Sharks alternating goalie starts in the early going, Vanecek is lined up for a home start versus the Avalanche on Sunday.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Yields four goals in loss
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Vanecek gave up four goals on 27 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks.
Chicago had three goals less than 21 minutes into the game, and that was enough to send Vanecek to his second loss in as many starts. While the Sharks remain winless, they've played a bit better in front of Mackenzie Blackwood so far. Both goalies will likely get their looks between the pipes since the Sharks are still in rebuilding mode. Look for Blackwood to start Friday versus the Jets.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: Tending twine Thursday
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Vanecek will patrol the road crease versus Chicago on Thursday, Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now reports.
Vanecek will make his second start of the season after giving up just one goal on 29 shots in his previous outing, albeit a loss to the Ducks. If the 28-year-old Czech can continue competing at that level, he could eventually steal starts away from Mackenzie Blackwood -- though the duo will likely continue splitting the workload for the time being.
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Sharks' Vitek Vanecek: No help in loss
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Vanecek allowed a goal on 29 shots in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Ducks. The second goal was an empty-netter.
The game was scoreless for 51 minutes before Isac Lundestrom tallied. Vanecek put in a good performance against a weak opponent, but a lack of goal support from his teammates stuck him with the loss in his Sharks debut. Mackenzie Blackwood allowed five goals in an overtime loss to the Blues on Thursday, so Vanecek's stronger performance despite a worse result could help him stay in the mix for playing time. The Sharks play three games in four days on the road next week, beginning with Tuesday's visit to Dallas.
