By Matt Schwartz and Jessica Haskin
The Detroit Red Wings got their first win of the 2001 NHL Prospects Tournament behind tryout Chad LaRose’s two-goal, one-assist performance against the St. Louis Blues in a 4-1 win Friday night.
The victory improved the Red Wings to 1-2 in tournament play. The Red Wings took the lead in the first period behind rookie Greg Jacina’s first goal of the tournament. Pavel Datsyuk, who finished with three assists on the night, earned a helper on the play along with LaRose. Jacina, a tryout from the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL, finished with a goal and an assist.
The Wings took a 2-0 lead before the end of the period after QMJHL defenseman Danny Groulx got his first goal that was assisted by blueline partner and Wings’ prospect Paul Ballantyne.
Both teams were scoreless during the second period but there was plenty of action to keep a fans attention. The puck was dropped to start the second period and so were two sets of gloves, Jason Baird’s of Detroit and Brett Lutes’ of St. Louis. Baird pulled Lutes jersey over his head and gave Lutes a few shots to the head before the linesman broke it up. Baird received two minutes for instigating the fight, a five minute major for fighting, and a ten minute misconduct. Lutes received a five minute major for fighting.
Eight minutes later Ryan Barnes with the Red Wings and Brett Scheffelmaier with the Blues paired up while Jeff Feniak, Detroit, and Brad Voth, St. Louis, paired up for a little go around. Scheffelmaier ended on top in his match while Feniak ended on top in his. Barnes was two minutes for instigating the fight, five minutes for fighting, and a ten minute misconduct. Scheffelmaier was given two minutes for roughing and five minutes for fighting. Feniak and Voth were given five minutes for fighting and a game misconduct.
LaRose closed out Detroit scoring with two third period goals while St. Louis avoided a shutout with a goal from Jay McClement. With forty-six seconds left Barnes and Craig Weller went for a spin. Both got several good shots in opening up each other wounds from previous games but Barnes took Weller down in the end. Both received 5 minutes for fighting.
As the buzzer sounded Detroit’s Brian McGrattan slashed Antoine Bergeron across the forehead, knocking him to the ice. Bergeron laid on the ice for several minutes till the trainer and three of his teammates assisted him off the ice.
The game included 96 minutes in penalties — 60 to the Red Wings — and Detroit outshot the Blues 37-25.
