The Detroit Red Wings didn’t get many pucks on net Monday but got enough in the net to pick up two points in their first-ever game in Utah.
Marco Kasper snapped a tie in the second period and Alex Lyon made 16 saves in relief of the injured Petr Mrazek as the Red Wings defeated the Utah Hockey Club 5-1 at the Delta Center.
The Red Wings (33-31-6) won for only the third time in 12 games. They have 72 points, three behind Montreal in the race for the final wild card spot, with the Islanders, Rangers and Columbus in between.
Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist to give him 501 career points. Elmer Soderblom, Austin Watson and Tyler Motte also scored.
Mrazek was injured 1:38 into the game when first Dylan Guenther and then Barrett Hayton kneed him in the head while driving to the net. It was Mrazek’s fifth start in the past six games.
It was Lyon’s first appearance since March 6 in a 4-2 loss to Utah at home.
Cam Talbot, the No. 3 goalie on this night, likely will start Tuesday in Colorado in the finale of a three-game trip (9 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).
Utah outshot the Red Wings 18-14 but fell to 32-28-11 (75 points).
The Red Wings benefitted from some puck luck.
Kasper snapped a 1-1 tie at 1:34 of the second period with his 14th goal. His pass attempt banked in off Lawson Crouse.
Watson, from near the top of the faceoff circle, tipped in a shot by Simon Edvinsson (two assists) to make it 3-1 at 9:51 of the third period. It was Watson’s first goal in four games with the Red Wings and first in the NHL since Dec. 31, 2023, with Tampa Bay.
The Red Wings recalled Watson from the Grand Rapids Griffins just prior to this trip.
DeBrincat put Detroit ahead 4-1 with an empty-net goal, his 33rd of the season, at 17:06. Motte closed out the scoring with 1:28 remaining.
The Red Wings managed only two shots in the first period but scored on the first one to tie it at 1-1 when Soderblom one-timed a pass from Vladimir Tarasenko past Karel Vejmelka on a two-on-one. Soderblom, who missed Saturday’s game in Vegas due to an injury, has four goals.
Utah opened the scoring on the power play when Guenther blasted in a one-timer at 3:46.
Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry returned to the lineup after missing 31 games due to an undisclosed injury that required surgery.
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