Red Wings Fall 4-1 to Utah as Olympic Break Begins
The Red Wings faced a disappointing exit into the Olympic break after losing 4-1 to Utah. This game marked a tough end to their recent matchups, as the Mammoth demonstrated dominance throughout. Utah quickly established an early lead, scoring timely goals and maintaining their advantage to sweep the season series against Detroit.
Key Moments from the Game
Utah’s Sean Durzi and Nick Schmaltz lit up the scoreboard with first-period goals. Durzi struck just 57 seconds into the game, marking his fifth goal of the season by capitalizing on a loose puck. Schmaltz followed up on a power play at 8:11, netting his 23rd goal, which extended Utah’s lead to 2-0.
Game Statistics
- Final Score: Utah 4, Red Wings 1
- Utah’s Record: 30 wins, 23 losses, 4 overtime losses (64 points)
- Detroit’s Record: 33 wins, 19 losses, 6 overtime losses (72 points)
- Dylan Larkin’s Goal: 26th goal of the season (power play) at 15:52 of the third period
- Clayton Keller’s Empty Net Goal: 17th goal at 17:42 of the third period
- Shots on Goal: Karel Vejmelka of Utah stopped 29 shots
In the third period, the Mammoth extended their lead further. Dylan Guenther scored at 4:40, pushing the score to 3-0 with his 25th goal. Although Larkin managed to finally get a power-play goal, this came too late as Keller’s empty-net goal thwarted any hopes of a Red Wings comeback.
Impact on Standings
This loss left the Red Wings four points behind Tampa in the Atlantic Division standings. They have now fallen behind Montreal based on percentage points, placing them third in the division.
Looking ahead, the Red Wings will not play again until February 26, when they begin a three-game road trip starting in Ottawa. As they prepare for their next challenge, the team will look to regroup and improve their performance following this setback against Utah.
