National Hockey League
Carolina 3, Detroit 0
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, January 14, 2021
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Referees: Peter MacDougall, Dean Morton
Linesmen: Shandor Alphonso, Ryan Galloway
Attendance: N/A

Petr Mrazek needed to make just 14 saves to record the shutout as the Carolina Hurricanes silenced the host Detroit Red Wings 3-0 in the season opener for both teams on Thursday.

The Hurricanes dominated the game, holding a 43-14 advantage in shots on goal. However, they didn't secure the win until they scored twice in the final 2:34.

Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Dzingel and Andrei Svechnikov scored the goals.

Thomas Greiss made 40 saves in his Red Wings debut after signing with Detroit as a free agent during the offseason.

The Red Wings were playing their first game since March. The Hurricanes were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Boston last season.

Carolina outshot Detroit 13-5 in the opening period and took a 1-0 lead.

The Hurricanes struck just 3:38 into the game. Sebastian Aho made a steal just outside the blue line, brought the puck into the Wings zone and backhanded a pass to Niederreiter, who beat Greiss on the short side.

Detroit's Mathias Brome clanged a shot off the crossbar late in the period.

Once again, the Hurricanes had a clear edge in shots on goal in the second period but Greiss made 12 saves to prevent Carolina from extending its lead.

The Wings' Sam Gagner squared off with Dougie Hamilton with less than two minutes left in the period and each were given five-minute fighting penalties.

Detroit failed to get a shot on goal during a power play early in the third. Mrazek didn't need to make a save until nearly nine minutes into the period.

Detroit's Dylan Larkin was sent off for tripping with 5:10 left. Just as the Wings were about to kill off that penalty, Patrik Nemeth was sent to the box for hooking Aho.

That allowed the Hurricanes to get an insurance goal. Dzingel tipped in a Jake Gardiner shot from the point. Martin Necas also had an assist.

Svechnikov tacked on an empty-netter with 1:05 remaining.

The teams will meet again on Saturday in Detroit.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Carolina   Detroit
Teuvo Teravainen 2 Points N/A
Ryan Dzingel 1 Goals N/A
Teuvo Teravainen 2 Assists N/A
Ryan Dzingel 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Petr Mrazek 1.000 Save Percentage Thomas Greiss .952
Petr Mrazek 14 Saves Thomas Greiss 40
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Carolina 43 3 1-3 2-2 9 34
Detroit 14 0 0-2 2-3 11 23
Upcoming Games
  • Detroit will play their next game at home against Carolina. The Red Wings have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Carolina will play their next game on the road against Detroit. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.