Dylan Garand turned Detroit’s home opener into his first NHL shutout, stopping 22 shots as the New York Rangers blanked the Red Wings 2-0 at Little Caesars Arena on Friday.
Making just his fourth NHL appearance, Garand gave New York a steady night in net while the Rangers handled a demanding opening stretch. New York had played three games in four nights and was coming off a 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, yet still found enough push to leave Detroit with a second straight victory.
The Rangers improved to 2-1-0. Garand, who went 2-0-1 in three appearances late last season, earned his first victory of this campaign and his first clean sheet at the NHL level.
Sean Durzi supplied the decisive goal on the power play at 5:12 of the first period. It was his first as a Ranger after arriving from the Utah Mammoth on July 1 in the Vincent Trocheck trade.
Durzi nearly had another power-play marker less than two minutes later, appearing to beat John Gibson again at 7:10. Detroit challenged the entry, however, and the goal was erased for offside.
The Red Wings had their chances to get back even. Rookie defenseman Anton Johansson, playing his first NHL game, rang a shot off the post later in the opening period. Detroit generated 20 shots over the first 40 minutes, but Garand kept the crease closed and the Rangers tightened up late.
Detroit managed only two shots in the third period as New York protected its one-goal cushion. Gibson finished with 19 saves in his Red Wings debut, but Eeli Tolvanen sealed the result with an empty-net goal at 18:44. It was Tolvanen’s second goal of the season.
The Red Wings opened their season with the loss, while the Rangers left the rink with two wins in as many nights and a young goaltender carrying a memorable first shutout back to New York.
