Red Wings Claim Prospect Tournament Title

The Detroit Red Wings earned their first-ever championship at the Traverse City NHL Prospect Tournament on Monday night.

The host Red Wings defeated the prospects from the Buffalo Sabres, 4-2, in a rematch of the 2011 championship.

Detroit’s 2013 draft picks led the way, with Anthony Mantha (first round, 20th overall) scoring twice and Zach Nastasiuk (second round, 48th overall) adding another. Tomas Jurco (second round, 35th overall in 2011) rounded out the scoring.

Mantha got things started with a power play goal with just 1:18 remaining in the first period and extended Detroit’s lead only 29 seconds into the second.

Frederick Roy pulled Buffalo back to within a goal at 3:22 of the third before Nastasiuk put the Red Wings back up by a pair at the period’s midway point.

With 7:13 remaining the Sabres pulled back within striking distance on a goal by Peter Trainor.

Jurco scored into the empty net in the game’s final minute to secure the win.

Undrafted free agent signing Jared Coreau got the win in goal for Detroit, stopping 23 of the 25 shots he faced for his second victory of the tournament. Nathan Lieuwen took the loss for the Sabres with 36 saves on 39 shots.