Detroit – The Red Wings kept taking the lead Saturday at the NHL Prospects Tournament, only to see Dallas tie the score.
Four times it happened. The fifth tie-breaker Dallas finally took the lead 5-4.
But the only difference was, the Wings didn’t come back, giving the Stars’ prospect team the win Saturday night at Traverse City’s Centre Ice Arena.
Christian Kyrou scored a power-play goal at 11 minutes, 32 seconds of the third period, breaking the 4-4 tie, and sending Dallas to the victory.
“We stayed with them, we had a lead or two, and we worked hard until the end,” said coach Ben Simon, the Grand Rapids Griffins coach who is coaching the Wings’ prospect team. “The guys bounced back at different points of the game, showing some resilience.”
On the flip side, Simon wasn’t entirely pleased with some defensive aspects from the Wings.
“I didn’t like the number of odd-man rushes we gave up, the lack of recognition and play recognition, and when the defense should pinch,” Simon said. “They were a fast team and played last night and we just kind of ran out of steam.”
Cross Hanas scored at 7:47 of the third period, converting a fine outlet pass from Elmer Soderblom, giving the Wings a 4-3 lead. But the Stars’ Antonio Stranges scored his second goal, 25 seconds later, tying the score 4-4.
Soderblom, Trenton Bliss (power play) and Amadeus Lombardi had Wings goals, while Kirill Tyutyayev had three assists.
Tyutayev, 22, impressed the Wings during last year’s prospects tournament, then had an impressive training camp with the veteran Wings. Tyutayev (2019, seventh-round) had a good start in Grand Rapids (three assists in nine games) before suffering an undisclosed season-ending injury.
“He worked extremely hard in Grand Rapids, we didn’t stop skating him for three or fourth months,” Simon said. “He has to take advantage of any opportunities afforded him. He has to grab a job and a spot and continue to work, which he does. That’s one of his best characteristics.”
The Wings are 1-1-0 in the tournament, and conclude the weekend with a game Monday against Toronto (11 a.m./redwings.com).
“We’ve never, obviously, played together (as a team) but we’re making it work,” Lombardi said. “We’re a really fast, skilled team.”
The line of Lombardi, Tyutayev and Soderblom was the Wings’ most effective line against Dallas.
“We didn’t know we’d be playing together until this morning and we had some good chemistry,” Lombardi said. “It’s pretty easy when you play with a guy who is 6-foot-8 (Soderblom) and can score when you put it in his wheelhouse and he puts it upstairs, and Kurls (Kirill) is a great player, real speed and smart.
“It’s easy playing with those two guys.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan