Empty the Tank: Red Wings Face Utah in Final Test Before Olympic Pause
The bags are packed, Olympic plans are set, and the calendar is about to hit pause — but the Red Wings still have one more game to get through.
On Wednesday night, February 4, Detroit (33–18–6) closes out its pre-Olympic schedule in Salt Lake City against the Utah Mammoth. After this, the Wings won’t play another NHL game for 22 days. Not everyone will be idle — several players are heading to Milano Cortina — but the rhythm of the season is about to change.
The task is simple: show up one more time and don’t drift.
Making Sure Denver Was Real
This game is really about what happened two nights ago.
Detroit’s 2–0 win in Denver wasn’t flashy, but it mattered. The Wings slowed the game down, stayed connected defensively, and didn’t give Colorado much to work with. That’s not easy to do in that building.
John Gibson stopped all 21 shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the season, and while the workload wasn’t heavy, Colorado never found any momentum. The Wings stayed compact, limited second chances, and kept the Avalanche mostly to the outside.
It wasn’t just Gibson. Detroit held Nathan MacKinnon scoreless and limited him to five shots. Moritz Seider logged 27:34 and played a steady, physical game that set the tone on the back end.
That kind of win doesn’t happen by accident. The question now is whether they can do it again.
Stat Capsule 🏒
Red Wings 2, Avalanche 0 — February 2, 2026
Venue: Ball Arena
Records:
- Detroit: 33–18–6
- Colorado: 36–9–9
Scoring
- 1st (0:33) — Marco Kasper (6)
Assists: Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin - 3rd (19:29) — Raymond (19, EN)
Assist: Larkin
Team Stats
- Shots: DET 25 | COL 21
- Hits: DET 27 | COL 29
- Blocked Shots: DET 17 | COL 15
- Faceoffs: DET 47.9% | COL 52.1%
- Giveaways: DET 10 | COL 16
- Power Play: DET 0/2 | COL 0/2
Goaltending
- Gibson (DET): 21 saves, shutout (4th of season)
Kasper Keeps Earning His Ice
The scoring in Denver came early, and it came from a familiar place lately.
Kasper’s goal 33 seconds in stood up as the winner, but that’s not why he keeps getting more trust. He was around the puck, didn’t force anything, and didn’t put his linemates in trouble.
That’s been the theme with him, and it’s why his role keeps growing.
Utah Is Exactly the Kind of Team That Can Spoil This
Utah doesn’t have Colorado’s star power, but they’ve already shown they can give Detroit problems. The Mammoth beat the Wings 4–1 back in December, and they play a fast game that feeds off turnovers.
This is also the classic let-down spot.
Detroit is coming off a strong road win, the break starts immediately after the final horn, and the Delta Center can get loud. If the Wings come out loose or start thinking about what’s next, Utah has enough speed to make it uncomfortable.
One More Push Before the Pause
The Olympic break looms large. Raymond (Sweden), Seider (Germany), and Larkin (USA) are all headed for international duty, while the rest of the roster will get time to recover and reset.
It’s unfortunate Alex DeBrincat didn’t make Team USA — he’s earned that kind of look — but he’ll have one more chance to add to his 30-goal season before things stop.
Raymond continues to lead the team with 60 points in 55 games, and his chemistry with Larkin has driven Detroit’s top six all year.
Why This One Matters
A win sends Detroit into the break with 74 points and a firm hold on second place in the Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay sits just ahead, Buffalo just behind, and the Eastern Conference race isn’t giving anyone breathing room.
More than the standings, though, this is about habit.
Play the same way they did in Denver — patient, connected, and disciplined — and the Wings head into the break feeling good about where they’re at. Let this one slip, and it’s the last taste they’ll have for nearly a month.
One more game.
Empty the tank.
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Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
