Red Wings Win Ugly At Utah

It was former Detroit Red Wings forward Reg Leach who once famously suggested that they don’t ask you how you got them. All they want to know is how many you got.

At the time, Leach was referring to goals. Following Monday’s 5-1 road win over the Utah Hockey Club, the current Red Wings were referencing that legendary hockey sentiment to refer to both goals and wins.

In desperate need of a victory, the Wings were taking advantage of some strange bounces to carve out a victory in a game that wasn’t at all easy on the eyes.

“I thought it was ugly from both sides,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan told the media after the game. “The conditions were pretty rough, slushy, snowy, puck bouncing all over the place.

“There were times in the game where I thought that hurt us, and times in the game when it helped us. They couldn’t connect on some plays as well, but we found a way to stick with an ugly night.”

Wild, Wacky Red Wings Goals

Dylan Guenther gave Utah the lead with a power-play goal before the game was four minutes old. Elmer Soderblom, back from injury, tied the game just 82 seconds later.

Then things got weird.

Marco Kasper tallied what would be the game winner, banking a shot into the net off the skate of Utah’s Lawson Crouse. Austin Watson, with his first of the season, made it 3-1. He redirected a shot up in the air. It floated toward the goal and fell into the net over the shoulder of Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka.

Watty's 1st as a Red Wing! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/wvPMtwUJie

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 25, 2025

Recently recalled from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, Watson’s goal was his first in the NHL since Dec. 31, 2023.

“It feels really good,” Watson said. “Obviously, being a Michigan kid and scoring for the Red Wings is pretty special.

“But just this year in general, being down with Grand Rapids for the majority of the year and grinding and waiting my turn, to be here this time of year, battling with these guys, and to get rewarded like that, it definitely feels good.”

Milestones For DeBrincat, Smith

Alex DeBrincat potted an empty-net goal and Tyler Motte netted his third of the season with an assist from Craig Smith. It was Smith’s first point with the Red Wings.

Congrats on 500, Cat! 😼 pic.twitter.com/uuWDvrj5Li

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 25, 2025

DeBrincat moved past 60 points this season and 500 points as an NHLer in this game.

“Yeah, it’s awesome,” DeBrincat told FanDuel Sports Detroit. “I think it’s fun to be out here with these guys battling and to get a nice win.”

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was plus-3 and tied a career high with two assists.

Lyon To The Rescue

Alex Lyon was forced into action at the 1:38 mark of the first period. Detroit starting goalie Petr Mrazek left the game after being involved in a goalmouth collision with Guenther and Barrett Hayton.

“He won’t be available for us the rest of this trip,” McLellan said of Mrazek. “Obviously we’ve only got one game (Tuesday at Colorado), and he wasn’t scheduled to play, so when we get back to Detroit, he’ll get evaluated. We’ve got the other two that we can play (Lyon and Cam Talbot).”

Lyon allowed Guenther’s goal on the first shot he faced, then closed the door.

“I thought Alex did a real good job coming in a difficult situation a minute into a game when you certainly don’t expect it,” McLellan said. “I think the first shot goes by him, and now it’s okay, what are we going to get? But he really settled in and played a good game.”

Lyon hadn’t played since facing the same Utah club in Detroit on March 6. It was his first win since beating Anaheim on Feb. 23.