PROSPECTS TOURNAMENT, DAY 2 NOTES: Robinson off to great start

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Eric Robinson got to the puck in the Blue Jackets' zone late in the game Saturday during a penalty kill and took a look up the ice.
The opposing net was vacant, with the St. Louis Blues down a goal and their goalie pulled for an extra skater, so he didn't waste the opportunity to make them pay. Standing inside his own blue line, Robinson sent the puck down the ice and into the empty net for his first goal and point of the 2018 NHL Prospects Tournament.
It was the game-sealin goal in the Blue Jackets' 5-3 victory against the Blues at Centre Ice Arena, improving their record to 2-0-0.
Overall, Robinson's play has been a lot better than what his stats might indicate. The rookie power forward from Princeton, who's wearing an alternate captain's 'A' here, has jumped out for good play all over the ice - including those penalty-kill situations that he wasn't routinely used for during his collegiate career.
"He's been terrific," Madden said. "It's been a pleasure to watch him out there. Easy to coach, great kid. There isn't anything more I can say about him. He's going to keep getting better and better as we go along, and wherever he ends up this year, he'll do well."

PENALTIES GALORE
After the first two games, Cleveland Monsters coach John Madden looks like quite a prognosticator.
Madden, who's running the Blue Jackets' bench, was right on target with a prediction that a lot of whistles would be heard during the tournament. That's certainly been the case with the Blue Jackets, who've been called for a combined 13 penalties through their first two games - including six in a 4-3 win Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks and seven more Saturday against the Blues.
"I think it's really difficult for the referees to call the games now, because just the sticks … you touch a guy and sometimes it's a penalty, sometimes it's not," Madden said Friday, after the Jackets' morning skate. "So, it's really hard for them to call our game and it's hard for the players to understand. Every referee has a little different way they ref, so if they can lay that out there real quick, then we can go, 'OK, if that's a penalty all night, just stay away from that and we should be fine.' You'll see it in this tournament. There will be quite a few penalties."
It's not just Columbus, either.
St. Louis was called for six penalties and the teams combined for 13 overall, resulting in 11 power plays. Each team scored one power-play goal, with the Blues going 1-for-6 and Blue Jackets finishing 1-for-5.
The good news for Columbus is the penalty-killing. The Jackets have escaped 10 of the 11 shorthanded situations they've faced and scored a key shorthanded goal in the win against the Blackhawks.

FOUDY STARTING TO SHINE
Liam Foudy doesn't have a point yet in his first Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament, but that doesn't mean he's been disappointing to watch.
The Jackets' 2018 first-round pick (No. 18 overall) has centered the top line in both games and has shown exactly why Columbus took him with such a high pick. He's used speed bursts to charge past defenders off rush attacks up the ice, he's played around the net, he's helped out defensively and he's come close to scoring goals at least two times.
Foudy hit the post with a wrist shot off an open look in the slot Saturday and was denied a goal earlier in the period by St. Louis Blues goalie Joel Hofer - who made a sprawling save at the right post.
"I think he's the type of guy that will keep getting better every game," Madden said. "Every time he touches the ice, he'll get better. He works so hard, he's a smart player. I think he's getting more comfortable. I think his game is just going to keep rising."
As for Foudy's top-end speed, what Madden likes most is the way he uses it.
"I think that sometimes that's an overrated term, 'speed,' because a lot of guys don't know how to find the holes to use the speed, to get the puck, so you've got to teach them that part of the game," he said. "But he knows exactly where he needs to be to catch the puck in stride and use his speed to his advantage. That's a big plus."
SMALL BUT SCRAPPY
Another forward who's stood out is 5-foot-6 forward Trey Fix-Wolansky, who picked up his first point of the tournament Saturday with an assist on a goal by Kevin Stenlund.
Fix-Wolansky made a good decision to get the puck out to the left point, from the bottom of the left circle, and invite defenseman Michael Prepavessis quickly fed it to Stenlund for a one-timer from the right wing.
Fix-Wolansky, who gives up a lot of size, does his best not to give up a single inch. He goes into corners hard, uses his diminutive stature to get open in the offensive zone and will even drop the gloves occasionally.
"I like to get dirty sometimes, maybe the odd scrap here and there," he said. "I've had five in my career in the [Western Hockey League], so maybe [I won't fight] here, but we'll see what happens."
The Blue Jackets selected Fix-Wolansky, 19, in the seventh round (No. 204) of the 2018 NHL Draft this past June in Dallas. He'll start training camp with the Blue Jackets but will likely head back to the Edmonton Oil Kings for his fourth WHL season.
"We're learning a little bit about him," Madden said. "After the game, one of the guys said he plays the point on the power play, as well, back in the [WHL]. I didn't know that, so when we went down a couple of [defensemen] there, I thought, 'Maybe that's something we'll do next time. I like the way he works. I like the way he sees the game and plays the game. For a little guy, it doesn't bother him. He just gets in there and does what he has to do."