Villalta was reassigned to AHL Tucson, per the NHL media site.
Karel Vejmelka (upper body) was activated off injured reserve in a corresponding move. Villalta didn't end up playing between the pipes for Utah during his latest stint with the team. He has a 2.94 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 15 outings with Tucson in 2025-26.
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Mammoth's Matt Villalta: Up from minors
Rotowire
Villalta was summoned from AHL Tucson on Monday.
Villalta has a 2.94 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 15 outings with Tucson this season. He's up from the minors because Karel Vejmelka is dealing with an upper-body injury and has been put on injured reserve. Utah hasn't announced its starter for Monday's home game against Nashville, but Villalta will likely serve as Vitek Vanecek's understudy.
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Mammoth's Matt Villalta: Shuts out Iowa
Rotowire
Villalta posted a 19-save shutout in AHL Tucson's 3-0 win over Iowa on Saturday.
Villalta is off to a 4-1-0 start in 2025-26, posting a 1.99 GAA and a .933 save percentage over five outings. This was the 10th shutout of his AHL career. The 26-year-old doesn't have a clear path to the NHL at this time, but he's well-positioned to be the next man up if Karel Vejmelka or Vitek Vanecek are unavailable for the Mammoth.
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Mammoth's Matt Villalta: Waived by Utah
Rotowire
Villalta was placed on waivers by the Mammoth on Friday.
Villalta spent training camp with the Mammoth but was unable to land a spot on the Opening Night roster. He's slated to be assigned to AHL Tucson if he clears waivers, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him spend most of the 2025-26 campaign in the minors.
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Hockey Club's Matt Villalta: Sent to AHL
Rotowire
Villalta was assigned to AHL Tucson on Wednesday.
Villalta spent the past few weeks in the NHL, but he made just one appearance for Utah, turning aside 28 of 31 shots (.903 save percentage) en route to a win over Nashville on Monday. However, he'll head back to the minors now that Utah's regular season is over.
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Hockey Club's Matt Villalta: Posts first career win
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Villalta saved 27 of 30 shots on net in Monday's 7-3 win over Nashville.
Villalta's first career win at the NHL level was a strong all-around performance, as he allowed just two goals at even strength. After the 14:20 mark in the second period, he kept Utah's net clean while the Hockey Club's offense erupted for three more goals to seal the win. Monday's outing was Villalta's first game of the season with Utah, as he's spent the entire campaign with AHL Tucson. Utah has one game remaining this season Tuesday, so Villalta will finish the season with a 1-0-0 record, a .900 save percentage and a 3.00 GAA unless the Hockey Club elects to deploy him in back-to-back games.
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Hockey Club's Matt Villalta: Called up from AHL
Rotowire
Villalta was recalled from AHL Tucson on Friday.
Villalta has a 17-21-3 record with a 3.01 GAA and a .906 save percentage across 41 outings with AHL Tucson this season. He appeared in two games with the Coyotes in 2023-24, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 save percentage). Utah demoted goaltender Jaxson Stauber to the Roadrunners in a corresponding move.
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Hockey Club's Matt Villalta: Waived for AHL demotion
Rotowire
Villalta was put on waivers Sunday for the purpose of assignment to AHL Tucson.
Villalta earned a 31-17-3 record with a 2.54 GAA and a .911 save percentage across 51 AHL appearances during the 2023-24 regular season. He will probably spend most of the 2024-25 campaign in the minors, barring an injury to Connor Ingram or Karel Vejmelka.
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Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Signs two-year contract
Rotowire
Villalta signed a two-year, two-way contract with Utah HC on Wednesday.
Villalta was set to become an unrestricted free agent in July after completing his one-year, two-way deal for the 2023-24 campaign. He had a 2.54 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 51 regular-season outings with AHL Tucson this year. He also appeared in two games with Arizona, posting a 4.17 GAA and an .828 save percentage.
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Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Returned to AHL
Rotowire
The Coyotes reassigned Villalta to AHL Tucson on Thursday.
Villalta was recalled a week ago when Connor Ingram suffered an undisclosed injury. Villalta managed to get into a pair of games -- stopping all four shots in relief of Karel Vejmelka on Feb. 16 and then giving up five goals on 25 shots in a 6-3 loss to Edmonton on Monday. This could be good news for the Coyotes, as it appears that Ingram is ready to return.
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Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Loses first NHL start
Rotowire
Villalta allowed five goals on 25 shots during Monday's 6-3 loss to Edmonton. The sixth goal was an empty-netter.
Villalta's second NHL game and first start didn't go very well. The Coyotes led 3-2 after the second period, but Villalta allowed three goals in a span of 2:03 in the final frame. The 24-year-old goalie is likely to head back to AHL Tucson once Connor Ingram (undisclosed) gets healthy.
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Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Slated to start Monday
Rotowire
Villalta is expected to start Monday's home matchup against Edmonton, according to Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports.
The Coyotes plan to give Villalta his first NHL start in the second half of the team's back-to-back after Karel Vejmelka plays in Colorado on Sunday. The 24-year-old Villalta made a relief appearance against the Hurricanes on Friday, stopping all four shots faced in 13:39 of ice time. The Oilers rank fifth in the league this campaign with 3.51 goals per contest.
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Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Makes NHL debut in relief outing
Rotowire
Villalta stopped all four shots he faced in relief of Karel Vejmelka on Friday in a 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes.
Villalta was called in for mop-up duty, playing 13:39 at the end of the third period in the lopsided loss. The 24-year-old should be in the backup role for the Coyotes until Connor Ingram (undisclosed) is cleared to return to play. Villalta could get a start during his time in the NHL, as the Coyotes have a back-to-back up next with games Sunday in Colorado and Monday at home versus the Oilers.
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Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Set to be recalled
Rotowire
Villalta is on track to be promoted from AHL Tucson on Thursday, Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports reports.
Connor Ingram is sidelined with an undisclosed injury, so Villalta will take over as the Coyotes' No. 2 netminder behind Karel Vejmelka for the time being. Villalta has yet to make his NHL debut.
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Coyotes' Matt Villalta: Signs with Coyotes
Rotowire
Villalta signed a one-year, two-way deal with Arizona on Saturday, Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports reports.
Villalta spent the last four seasons in the Kings' minor league system. He was 12-8-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .910 save percentage with AHL Ontario in 2022-23. Look for Villalta to start the season with AHL Tucson in 2023-24.
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Kings' Matt Villalta: Recalled Friday
Rotowire
Villalta was called up from AHL Ontario prior to Saturday's Game 7 per John Hoven of SiriusXM NHL Network Radio
Villalta will slot back in as Los Angeles' third goaltender behind Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen. The 22-year-old netminder has yet to see any NHL action after posting a 28-10-10 record with a .903 save percentage with Ontario.
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Kings' Matt Villalta: Joins big club
Rotowire
Villalta was called up from AHL Ontario under emergency conditions Thursday, per CapFriendly.
Villalta is likely only going to serve as emergency goaltending depth during his time with the big club. Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen are both healthy and remain the Kings' top netminders.
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Kings' Matt Villalta: Back with Reign
Rotowire
Villalta was reassigned to AHL Ontario on Tuesday, per LA KIngs' Insider Jared Shafran.
Villalta has yet to make his NHL debut since during pro beginning with the 2019-20 campaign. The 2017 third-round selection could make his first NHL appearance at some point this year but shouldn't be expected to secure a regular lineup spot at the NHL level.
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Kings' Matt Villalta: Shuffles to AHL
Rotowire
Villalta was assigned to AHL Ontario on Monday, Lisa Dillman of The Athletic reports.
Troy Grosenick will take Villalta's spot on the taxi squad. Villalta, 21, will benefit from a more consistent role with the minor-league affiliate. He has a lot of development left before making the leap, as he's generated an .872 save percentage and a 3-6-0 record through 10 AHL appearances.
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Kings' Matt Villalta: Promoted to taxi squad
Rotowire
Villalta was added to the Kings' taxi squad Sunday, per CapFriendly.
Villalta will switch places with Troy Grosenick, who was sent to the minors in a corresponding move. Villalta has yet to make his NHL debut.
