Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Red Wings fans threw an octopus on the ice as Detroit beat Utah.
- Detroit won 5-1, with goals from Watson and Kasper sealing their victory.
- Utah struggled with turnovers and power plays, dimming their playoff hopes.
SALT LAKE CITY — An octopus was on the ice. That wasn't a good sign for the home team.
Celebratory chants echoed throughout the Delta Center late in the third period. Unfortunately for the Utah Hockey Club, they were from the fans wearing red.
That celebration hit a crescendo with 2:54 on the clock when the Detroit Red Wings added an empty-netter en route to their 5-1 win. It was then when the eight-legged sea creature was thrown onto the ice, continuing the long-running Red Wings tradition that dates back to 1952. So, hey, at least Utah got to experience some NHL lore in the loss.
And at least some — OK, more than some — fans left the game happy.
As for the home team ...
"We got a little bit unlucky," Utah head coach André Tourigny said.
Midway through the third, Detroit forward Austin Watson reached his stick out for the puck at the top of the offensive zone face-off circle. It was an optimistic deflection attempt, at best, but sometimes the optimistic approach is the best.
The puck popped up in the air and flew over the left shoulder of Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka to give Detroit a 3-1 lead.
That served as the clinching goal on Monday, but it wasn't the only time Detroit benefited from a fortunate bounce.
In the opening minutes of the second period, Red Wings forward Marco Kasper hit the puck near the crease, which deflected off Lawson Crouse and into the net to make it 2-1. That made Utah's hot start a distant memory.
The octopi was flying in Salt Lake tonight.#LGRWpic.twitter.com/vDh7FtCxfx
— The Flying Octopus Podcast (@FlyingOctoPod) March 25, 2025
Dylan Guenther scored 3:46 into the game on a power play on his trademark blast from the left circle. The one-timer was set up by a superb pass from Keller, who zipped the puck from the opposite side of the zone to tee up Guenther for his team-leading 26th goal of the season.
The lead, though, didn't last long.
Detroit's Elmer Soderblom finished off a two-on-one rush to tie the game less than two minutes later off a Utah turnover.
Utah never could regain its footing, even with plenty of man-advantage chances and offensive possession. While there was some luck in the actual game-breaking goals, the opportunities still came due to Utah miscues.
The Club committed blue-line turnovers and failed to clear the puck at critical times — things that ruined an otherwise solid defensive effort.
The Red Wings only had five shots on goal through the first two periods — yet, they led 2-1.
"I think for the most part, it was good effort defensively," Ian Cole said. "We took away chances, block shots when we had to, but, ultimately, goals went into the net, and that's kind of the determining factor whether you win."
Utah was 1-of-5 on the power play and came up empty in its final four, including one in the third period when The Club was only down a goal.
Touringy said he wants to see a more "shooting mentality" from the group that has struggled over the last few games. And the team can use a little more firepower with Vejmelka showing signs of fatigue after making his 14th consecutive start on Monday.
"There's nobody in the league who did that," Tourigny said. "So he should be tired. … All the players in the league at this point are a little bit banged up, tired or a little bit worn down, but you need to battle through."
And that's what Utah intends to do even with its playoff hopes now on life support. The team is 6 points out of the playoffs with 11 games remaining.
"There's never going to be any quit in this room ever," Keller said. "We're going to fight all the way until the end. We're going to try to win every single game from here on out."
