The Jackets opened the 2014 Traverse City Prospect Tournament with a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. The game wasn’t the prettiest but the Jackets will take the victory. The Wild took the first lead 7:49 into the first when Nick Walters and Brady Brassart had a 2-1 with Walters finishing.
In the second, Oliver Bjorkstrand found Kerby Rychel in front to tie it at one. 56 seconds lasted Walters would strike again to make it 2-1. Later in the second the CBJ had a scare when 2014 first round pick Sonny Milano fell face first into the boards and needed help off the ice – he would not return to the game. Later in the period, TJ Tynan would get credit for a goal that would bounce over the Wild goaltender’s shoulder.
The third is when the Jackets started hitting and started scoring. Kerby Rychel scored to make it 3-2 until Minnesota struck again when Kurtis Gabriel scored just moments later. Then, Marko Dano scored two power play goals a little over a minute apart on a four minute power play. With just under two minutes to go, the Wild would score with their goalie pulled off a faceoff, but the Jackets would seal the victory with their top line working a tic tac toe play that Alexander Wennberg finished into an empty net to make it 6-4.
Anton Forsberg stopped 20 of 24 in the win. Two more semi-scary moments came when Olivier LeBlanc took a puck to the face but would return and Dillon Heatherington took a high hit with a stick. Dillon would not return but it did happen in the third period and he looked fine walking around post game. Thomas Larkin wore the Captain’s C today with Alexander Wennberg and Austin Madaisky wearing the As.
PLAYER NOTES
In watching two days of practice and a game, Nick Moutrey has impressed me – he looks bigger and played well. Thomas Larkin dropped the mitts with Kurtis Gabriel and, well, Kurtis chose poorly with Thomas earning the decision. Blake Siebenaler was the Dman I wanted to watch closely and he’s already impressed me – so smooth and at one point, he went end to end. Josh Anderson also impressed and really stood out leading the team in shots taken. He was physical throughout the game and even ran right through one defender.
CBJProspects’ 3 STARS
1. Kerby Rychel
2. Marko Dano
3. Ryan Walters (Minnesota) 2 goals
LINES
Rychel (1-3-4) Wennberg (1-0-1)-Bjorkstrand (1-1-2)
Dano (2-1-3) Tynan (1-0-1)-Milano
Søberg (0-1-1) Sedlák Anderson
Moutrey Quenneville Pelletier
Heatherington-Madaisky (0-1-1)
Siebenaler-Larkin
LeBlanc-MacLeod
Forsberg
Dansk
Tomorrow the CBJ take on the host/defending champs the Detroit Red Wings at 7:30. Detroit won 6-5 in overtime last night versus St. Louis. We’ll probably see Oscar Dansk tomorrow along with possibly some other changes in the lineup.
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