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Mrazek strong in goal again as Red Wings blank Devils

 
Published Jan. 22, 2018

NEWARK, N.J. — Petr Mrazek had 37 saves in posting his second straight shutout and third of the season as the Red Wings beat the slumping Devils 3-0 on Monday night.

Tyler Bertuzzi, David Booth and Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

Cory Schneider, sidelined two of the last three games with an illness, made 27 saves for the Devils, who have two wins in their last 10 games (2-5-3).

Mrazek made 27 saves in shutting out Chicago on Jan. 14, and now has three shutouts in 14 games with a 5-5-1 record.

Jimmy Howard, who has carried the load for the Red Wings' in goal, has played the last two games, giving up seven goals.

Mrazek was spectacular on the Devils' five power plays. His best save came early in the third period when he stoned Brian Boyle on a setup in front of the crease. The 25-year-old Czech also stopped Kyle Palmieri, Drew Stafford and Sami Vatanen on a second-period power play and he stopped Pavel Zacha on two more extra-man chances later in the period.

Bertuzzi gave the Red Wings the lead 6:36 into the game, scoring on a rebound of Larkin's shot for his second career goal.

Booth got his fourth of the season late in the second on a slap shot that deflected off Vatanen's stick.

Larkin added the insurance in the third with a shot from the left circle that went in and out of the net so fast that the officials missed it. It was confirmed on a videotape review.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Blake Comeau scored the go-ahead goal with 7:43 left and the visiting Avalanche beat the Maple Leafs 4-2 to extend its winning streak to 10 games. Comeau beat a backchecking Auston Matthews to the net and redirected Carl Soderberg's feed past goalie Frederik Andersen to put Colorado ahead 3-2. Gabriel Landeskog added an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal it. Gabriel Bourque and Nail Yakupov also scored, and Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves for his ninth straight win in place of injured Semyon Varlamov.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Bruins rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy, a 2016 first-round pick, was treated for an abnormal heart rhythm and is expected to need about two weeks to recover. He reported heart palpitations to team doctors on Nov. 26. Team internist David Finn said it is not considered dangerous but is likely to recur.