TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Ahead Riley Piercey, who made the Detroit Purple Wings’ 2022 NHL Prospect Match roster as a free-agent invitee, made fairly the primary impression.
Piercey scored 4 objectives for the Purple Wings, who opened their three-game NHL Prospect Match schedule with a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday afternoon in entrance of a packed Centre Ice Area crowd.
“It was simply a kind of nights,” Piercey stated. “The puck bounces have been there, and I capitalized on my alternatives after I had them.”
Piercey, who earned 27 objectives and 31 assists in 59 video games final season for the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, stated he desires to “make an excellent title” for himself in Traverse Metropolis.
“It is the beginning that everybody hopes for and desires for,” Piercey stated. “To get that begin was good, however we bought the large win.”‘
Video: Riley Piercey | Media Availability | 09/16/22
The 20-year-old Mississauga, Ontario, native opened the scoring for Detroit at 12:46 of the primary interval when he redirected undrafted defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka’s shot previous Columbus goalie Pavel Cajan.
Lower than three minutes later, the Blue Jackets tied the sport at 1-1 when Columbus prospect and former College of Michigan ahead Kent Johnson despatched a rebound previous Purple Wings netminder Sebastian Cossa.
Cossa, who was Detroit’s fifteenth total choose within the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, began Friday’s sport and made 17 saves earlier than being changed by free-agent invitee and Shelby Township, Mich., native Andrew Oke halfway via the second interval.
“I believed each goalies performed very effectively,” Purple Wings prospect coach Ben Simon stated. “And each gave us an opportunity to win.”
Video: Ben Simon | Media Availability | 09/16/22
Piercey’s second tally with 8:04 left within the second interval put Detroit forward, 2-1. Then, former Western Michigan standout and present Purple Wings prospect Drew Worrad’s power-play purpose with 3:35 to play within the center body prolonged the membership’s lead by a pair headed into the third interval.
With 8:27 remaining within the sport, Piercey accomplished the hat trick off a breakaway, giving Detroit a 4-1 benefit. Fourteen seconds later, Columbus ahead Kirill Marchenko scored his second NHL Prospect Match purpose to chop the Blue Jackets’ deficit to 2.
Piercey’s fourth purpose with 5:16 within the third sealed the win for Detroit.
“For the scenario, for the sport that we performed and having an absence of preparation, I believed there’s numerous good things to construct off of,” Simon stated. “We’ll watch the video tonight and attempt to educate slightly bit as we go and attempt to get slightly higher each interval.”
Detroit will play its second NHL Prospect Match sport on Saturday with a 6 p.m. puck drop in opposition to the Dallas Stars. All Purple Wings Prospect Match video games will probably be carried dwell on DetroitRedWings.com and on the membership’s social media platforms.
