After the Red Wings’ prospects won a 5-2 decision over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday afternoon/evening, the Red Wings’ beat writers weighed in with several overnight or early morning-posted articles discussing the game’s events, and pertinent storylines, ahead of today’s 6 PM game vs. Dallas:
- MLive’s Ansar Khan posted an article about Riley Piercey’s four-goal performance..
Piercey scored in a variety of ways Friday – a deflection in the first period, a snipe in the second period and a breakaway and short rebound in the third. It is the first time he has scored four goals in a game at any level.
“I guess it was just one of those nights,” Piercey said. “Puck bounces were there. I capitalized on my opportunities when I had them. It’s just hockey. It’s just one of those games. I thought I did well.”
Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon, who is coaching Detroit’s prospects, said of Piercey: “Obviously a night like that you don’t get too often. I’m happy for him. Hopefully, that will breed some confidence and lead into training camp. Good for him having a good first game and let’s see what that leads to.”
The Red Wings face the Dallas Stars tonight at 6 (live-streamed at DetroitRedWings.com).
The Red Wings invited Piercey to development camp at Little Caesars Arena in July and he played well enough to earn an invite to the main camp.
“Now I’m just here trying to make a good name for myself,” he said.
2. Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen also took note of Piercey’s performance…
“It’s definitely a pretty crazy experience, coming in, soaking in the last 48 hours, getting down here, getting together as a team,” Piercey said. “It’s a pretty good performance…kind of everything you wish for.”
Piercey had never scored four goals in one game before at any level. He did net a hat trick last season playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Firebirds.Oddly, no one at the Traverse City arena threw any hats when Piercey scored his third or fourth goal.
Detroit teammate Simon Edvinsson even raised four fingers to remind the crowd it was his fourth goal.Piercey wasn’t surprised by the lack of hat tossing. “I’m the new guy on the block,” he said. “That’s fine with me.”
Free agents come to these prospect tournaments to get signed, or at least get noticed. The 6-foot-3 right wing scored 27 goals last season in Flint. He was teammates in Flint with Red Wings’ draftee Amadeus Lombardi.
“I just take what life throws at me, step by step, shift by shift, never thinking too far ahead, never thinking about the past, just clean mindset,” Piercey said. “I’m the new guy on the block just trying to make a name for myself. Just taking everything slow, processing it and learning from that.”
3. The Free Press’s Helene St. James discussed Elmer Soderblom’s potential impact as a 6’8″ forward…
Söderblom knows what he has to do to stand out in the competition for jobs.
“My strength is an attack mindset and being around the net, being tough to play against, being able to protect the puck,” he said. “Use my big frame, stuff like that. I have to keep playing my game, maybe add some more physicality and play with my size even more. That’s what I have to do to be able to take a spot.”
As Söderblom put it, “I think I’m pretty much the tallest guy on the ice, often.”
As he has matured, he has learned how he can use his size to move defenders in front of an opponent’s net, and how he can use it to have the puck more.
“A few years ago, I was not really that smooth and comfortable with my body and big size,” he said. “I’m still working on it, to use my whole body and my big size. I think it’s going better and better. I want to show my style of play and the things I’m good at.”
4. And the Traverse City Record-Eagle’s Jordan Puente posted an article recapping Friday night’s game while also setting up “where the Wings go from here”:
Detroit only had a day of practice before coming out and dominating the Blue Jackets. Simon liked how they came together and put a great performance on the ice.
“We were sloppy at times in some areas, but that is to be expected,” Simon said. “Our goal is to learn from the mistakes that we make and try to get a little bit better and improve as this week goes forward.”
Getting the win in their first game was definitely a plus, Simon said.
“Everyone is a little bit happy, and you sleep a little easier. You come into the rink tomorrow in just a little bit better mood, hopefully that leads into confidence for tomorrow and hit the ground running,” he said.
Up North Live posted a set of highlights from the game as well, though they’re not embeddable.
