Kasper put Detroit ahead 2-1 at 1:34 of the second period after the puck went off his stick and bounced off Utah forward Lawson Crouse into the net.
Austin Watson extended it to 3-1 at 9:51 of the third period, deflecting a shot by Simon Edvinsson, who had two assists. It was Watson’s first goal since Dec. 31, 2023, with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I just tried to get a little stick on it so, you never know what happens,” Watson said. “That feels really good, obviously being a Michigan kid and scoring for the Red Wings is pretty special, but just this year in general, being down in Grand Rapids (of the American Hockey League) for the majority of the year and kind of 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.”
DeBrincat made it 4-1 at 17:06 with an empty-net goal, and Tyler Motte scored at 18:32 for the 5-1 final.
“I thought once we figured out how we were going to play under these conditions and not be cute and try and make plays, it was just sloshing it around and throwing pucks at the net, who knows what can happen,” McLellan said. “You look at Kasper’s goal, you look at Watson’s goal, it almost isn’t even hockey. You just throw it there and hope for something to happen, and that was the case.”
NOTES: Patrick Kane (18 goals, 32 assists) had an assist to become the first Red Wings player at the age of 36 or older to record 50 points in a season since Henrik Zetterberg in 2017-18 (11 goals, 45 assists). … Guenther’s goal was both the 50th of his career and his 100th NHL point.
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