Red Wings G Mrazek exits in first period against Utah with injury

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Detroit goaltender Petr Mrazek exited with an apparent lower body injury early in the first period in the Red Wings’ 5-1 victory over Utah Hockey Club on Monday night.

Utah forward Dylan Guenther collided with Mrazek in the net on the tail end of a breakaway shot attempt 1:38 into the game. The contact sent Mrazek’s stick flying across the ice. Mrazek limped off the ice and headed straight to the locker room. Alex Lyon replaced him in the net.

Lyon finished with 16 saves against Utah. He came into Monday’s game with a 11-8-1 record as a starter this season, allowing 2.77 goals per game and boasting a .900 save percentage.

“I’m just staying ready every day,” Lyon said. “When you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said Mrazek will not be available to play on Tuesday night when Detroit wraps up a four-game road trip at Colorado and will be further evaluated on Wednesday when the team returns to Detroit.

Mrazek is 12-21-2 in his 35 previous starts this season. He has a 3.35 goals against average and a .891 save percentage.

McLellan praised Lyon’s ability to lock down the net after taking the ice on short notice.

“Alex did a real good job coming (into) a difficult situation a minute into the game when you certainly don’t expect it,” McLellan said. “The first shot goes by him and now it’s ‘Okay, what are we going to get?’ but he really settled in and had a good game.”

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