The Red Wings skated into the Olympics break in less than ideal fashion.

Utah started quickly, built an early lead, and never looked back Wednesday while defeating the Wings, 4-1.

Sean Durzi and Nick Schmaltz (power play) scored first-period goals for Utah (30-23-4, 64 points) and Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka stopped 29 shots, as the Mammoth swept the two-game season series from the Wings.

Dylan Larkin's power-play goal, his 26th goal, at 15 minutes, 52 seconds of the third period, cut Utah's lead to 3-1 and ended a Wings' stretch of 18 power plays without a goal over six games.

But Clayton Keller's empty-net goal at 17:42, his 17th goal, restored the three-goal lead (4-1) for the Mammoth.

In a reversal of Monday's victory in Colorado, the Wings gave up an early goal in this game. Durzi scored at 57 seconds, stepping into a loose puck along the boards and scoring his fifth goal, through goaltender John Gibson.

Enjoying a two-man advantage, the Mammoth extended the lead 2-0 on Schmaltz's 23rd goal at 8:11, as Utah worked the puck to Schmaltz all alone between the hashmarks.

Dylan Guenther gave Utah a 3-0 lead at 4:40 of the third period, his 25th goal, on a drive to the net.

With the loss, the Wings (33-19-6, 72 points) remained four points behind Tampa for the Atlantic Division lead and fell behind Montreal by percentage points into third place.

The Wings don't play again until Feb. 26, when they open a three-game road trip beginning in Ottawa.

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