The Detroit Red Wings and Utah Mammoth will aim to generate some momentum before the Olympic break when they face off on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.
Both teams were on losing skids before posting wins Monday night. Detroit had lost three in a row and four of five, but surprised the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 in the second of a home-and-home set. Utah had lost two straight and three of four, but outscored the visiting Vancouver Canucks 6-2.
The Mammoth will play the third of a six-game homestand, split in half by the break. The Red Wings will conclude their five-game road trip with three more after the break.
This will be the second and final meeting of the season for the teams after visiting Utah topped Detroit 4-1 on Dec. 17. Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist and Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves.
On Monday, John Gibson made 21 saves for the Red Wings in the 2-0 win. The shutout was Gibson’s fourth of the season and 28th of his career.
“Top to the bottom, it was a total team effort,” Gibson said. “Everybody was committed to playing defense, offense, getting pucks deep, forecheck. So, I think it was probably one of the most complete games that at least I’ve been a part of this year.”
The Avalanche had not been shut out since Feb. 4, 2025, by the Canucks.
Lucas Raymond had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Larkin had two assists for the Red Wings, who avenged a 5-0 home loss to the Avalanche on Saturday. It was Detroit’s first road win against Colorado since a 5-3 victory at Coors Field on Feb. 27, 2016.
“I thought it was outstanding,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “We had some legs, we were connected, we made some passes, we defended well. Just about everything that could get turned upside down (from Saturday’s 5-0 loss) was.”
In Utah, Nick Schmaltz recorded his second hat trick of the season and added an assist in the win over Vancouver.
“I think Schmaltz was really good everywhere,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “He was good defensively, stripping pucks, his body position was good. I liked his game a lot.”
Schmaltz (22 goals) reached the 20-goal mark for the fifth consecutive season and sixth time in his career. It was his third career hat trick.
Ten Utah skaters made the scoresheet, including JJ Peterka, who scored his 20th goal of the season. Defenseman John Marino had three assists and Lawson Crouse had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth, who are 7-1-1 in their past nine home games. Vejmelka made 21 saves.
Marino has four points in his past two games and established a new career high with 28 points.
“He’s a great player,” Schmaltz said of Marino. “I think he’s very underrated. He’s got a lot of plays with the puck, he waits off defenders, and makes a lot of good plays in the middle of the ice. Super great player, so I’m very happy to see him having success.”
–Field Level Media
