SALT LAKE CITY — The Detroit Red Wings emerged victorious on Monday night, defeating the Utah Hockey Club with a commanding 5-1 scoreline, largely due to Alex Lyon’s outstanding performance in the net. He stepped in to make 16 crucial saves after the starting goalie, Petr Mrazek, was forced to leave the game due to injury.
Mrazek suffered what appeared to be a lower body injury just 1:38 into the game when Dylan Guenther collided with him at the net following a breakaway attempt. After the collision, Mrazek limped off the ice and headed straight to the locker room, leaving the Red Wings to rely on Lyon.
Detroit’s offense was firing on all cylinders as Elmer Soderblom, Marco Kasper, Austin Watson, Alex DeBrincat, and Tyler Motte each found the back of the net, effectively ending a six-game losing streak on the road. In contrast, Utah’s lone goal came from Guenther, who reached a milestone of 100 career points with his 26th goal of the season. Karel Vejmelka, Utah’s goaltender, managed nine saves in what was his career-high 14th consecutive start.
The game started with Guenther giving Utah an early advantage at 3:46 in the first period with a power-play goal. However, Detroit quickly responded when Soderblom fired a slapshot to equalize just 82 seconds later.
An unexpected turn of events saw the Red Wings take the lead in the second period. Kasper took a shot that deflected off Lawson Crouse’s leg and into the net, demoralizing the Utah side. Detroit continued to dominate in the third period with goals from Watson, DeBrincat, and Motte. DeBrincat’s contribution took his season tally to 33 goals.
In terms of defense, the Red Wings effectively handled Utah’s power plays, successfully killing four out of five penalties. Meanwhile, Clayton Keller of Utah assisted Guenther’s goal, adding to his impressive NHL-leading 21 power-play assists and 27 power-play points since early December.
A pivotal moment came when Kasper’s shot, ricocheting off Crouse’s leg into the goal, shifted momentum entirely in favor of Detroit for the remainder of the game.
Though Detroit only managed five shots on goal in the first two periods, their efficiency and strategic play secured them the win. The Red Wings are now heading to Colorado for their next game on Tuesday, while Utah will face Tampa Bay on Thursday.