Wings-Stars pre-game notes from Wakiji

The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects will battle the Dallas Stars for the Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup today at the prospect tournament ’19 (5 PM EDT on Fox Sports GO and Red Wings YouTube); DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji filed a pre-game notebook…

“It means a lot,” Joe Veleno said after Monday’s 7-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I think that’s what our main goal here was, to play in the championship game. I think we deserved it. I don’t think we had the best start (Monday) but we found a way to get it done and I think that’s what’s important.”

Veleno was a big factor in the Wings reaching the game last year and that continued this year with a lot more experience under his belt.

Veleno had two power-play goals in each of the first two games and then added an empty-net goal against Toronto. He leads the tournament with five goals.

Coming on strong is Chase Pearson, the Wings’ fifth-round pick, 140th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Pearson had a hat trick plus an assist in the Toronto game and leads the tournament in points with six. He is tied for second in goals with four.

“Any offensive game is a big confidence boost but I think there’s still stuff to work on,” Pearson said after the game. “Anytime I can contribute offensively, it’s a good night for me.”

Wakiji continues, and she posted the Wings’ lineup…

LINEUP: Here is the Wings lineup for Tuesday’s championship game:

Hirose-Veleno-Lukosevicius

Smith-Pearson-Zadina

Troy Loggins-Gregor MacLeod-Ryan Kuffner

Thomas Casey-Elmer Söderblom-Owen Robinson

Berglund-Seider

Lalonde-Lindstrom

D’Astous-McCrea

Romeo

Kaden Fulcher

While The Athletic’s Sean Shapiro posted the Stars’ lineup:

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!