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TRAVERSE CITY -- The first game after a layoff can be a significant challenge.
It definitely was for the Detroit Red Wings, who fell, 4-2, to the Minnesota Wild in the first game at the annual NHL Prospect Tournament at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City.

Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon thought his players might have overextended their shifts a bit, which ended up hurting them late in the game.
The Wild outshot the Red Wings in the third period, 16-5.
Filip Zadina (power play) and Jared McIsaac, who were teammates on the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads last season, scored for Detroit.
Joe Veleno and Dennis Cholowski assisted on both goals.
Dmitry Sokolov (power play), Ivan Lodnia, Gerry Fitzgerald and Damien Giroux (empty net) scored for Minnesota.
Patrik Rybar made 31 saves in his first start for the Wings.
1.Filip Zadina: Zadina's shot is a known commodity and he used it effectively, scoring just 10 seconds into the Wings' fourth power play at 18:45 of the first period. The goal tied the game at 1. Zadina had other opportunities on the power play as the Wild took several penalties during the game but he was not able to convert again.
Quotable: "It was pretty good situation on the ice. Cholo passed me the puck well and I hit it and I scored. It was good, but we lost, so I'm kind of disappointed with myself that I didn't have more on the ice but we got to be ready for tomorrow's game." - Zadina

Quotable II: "He's a pure goal-scorer. I played with him all last year, I think I'm pretty well used to seeing that by now. I think that's what everyone expects of him. He's got a lethal shot and when he's able to get away, it's the velocity on it is pretty good." - McIsaac
Quotable III: "Overall I thought he played very well. The expectations for him are so high, we're holding him to a high standard, so it's going to be tough for him to fulfill that every day. But obviously his goal was a nice shot. He wants the puck, he wants to compete and that's one thing you notice right away is that he cares, he competes. There's some things that he's got to get out of his system a little bit moving forward but overall, I thought he settled in as the game went on nicely." - Ben Simon, Grand Rapids Griffins head coach
2. Dennis Cholowski: Cholowski certainly wasn't complaining about his ice time after this game. He played both on the power play -- the Wings had eight of those opportunities -- and on the penalty kill in addition to regular shifts. In the third period, the Wings were reduced to just five defensemen, which meant more time for Cholowski. His response was to assist on both Red Wings goals.
Quotable: "I thought it was good. Obviously the power play, would have liked to have created a little bit more. First game back I thought it was pretty good and be better tomorrow." - Cholowski

Quotable II: "If you were to ask someone who hasn't seen him all summer, his performance here last year to this year, huge strides. I thought he played very well tonight. Played a ton. Obviously lugged the mail on the power play. He was a pleasant surprise tonight." - Simon
3. Jared McIsaac: About a minute after the Wild had scored to take a 3-1 lead over the Wings in the third period, McIsaac's shot found its way into the net. It gave the Wings life as they drew back to within one goal. It was McIsaac's first game in a while, which showed in the two penalties he took, one for slashing and one for hooking. All in all, it was a fairly solid performance for the young blue liner in the first prospect tournament game of his career.

Quotable: "Joey made a nice play at the blue line, I kind of looked him off and shot through the guy. I didn't see it go in, but everyone started celebrating. I guess, lucky bounce. I'll definitely take it." - McIsaac