DETROIT — Petr Mrazek delivered an impressive performance with 18 saves to achieve his first shutout of the season, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a decisive 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. This game marked Mrazek’s third start since being traded from Chicago at the trade deadline.
Rookie defenseman Albert Johansson opened the scoring for the Red Wings, securing his second career goal 7:58 into the second period. As the game progressed, teammates Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper contributed with goals in the third period. This triumph was much needed for the Red Wings, who had previously lost seven out of their last eight matches.
On the other side, Golden Knights’ goaltender Ilya Samsonov struggled as he made 24 saves, with his team experiencing a tough period, losing four of their last five games.
Key takeaways from the match included the Golden Knights seeing their Pacific Division lead shrink to five points. They ended a challenging road trip with a 1-1-2 record, while the second-place Los Angeles Kings gathered momentum with a five-game winning streak.
For the Red Wings, the victory brought some positive energy as they prepare for a four-game road series. Despite not making the playoffs in the last eight years, Detroit has 10 of its remaining 15 games on the road, providing a critical stretch for the team.
A significant moment in the game came when Raymond ended his 11-game goal drought at 4:51 of the third period. His shot from the slot elevated over Samsonov’s glove, extending the Red Wings’ lead to 2-0.
As an impressive career milestone, Mrazek’s shutout was the 26th in his career, though only his second in the past four seasons across 145 starts.
Looking ahead, the Golden Knights are set to host Boston on Thursday, while the Red Wings will visit Washington on Tuesday.
