CAMP GAME RECAP: Team White Wins Final Training Camp Game 3-2

The Devils played their final game of training camp Sunday night when the White Team won its first game of training camp 3-2. Although the Red Team scored two unanswered goals, they were unable to overcome the three goal hurdle.
Scott Wedgewood backstopped Team Red while Mackenzie Blackwood held it down in net for Team White.
Team White struck first about nine minutes into the game. Travis Zajac's shot in a mad scramble in front of the net was the one to get the puck across the goal line after several of his teammates attempts.
In the final four minutes of the first period Team White doubled their lead with a goal from Miles Wood. Wood redirected in a shot from Ty Smith past Wedgewood.

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The Devils have Monday off before returning to the ice on Tuesday for practice. For full training camp coverage stay on NewJerseyDevils.com.
EVP and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald continues to be impressed by Smith throughout this camp.
"Pucks get through the net, Miles [Wood] would tip that goal but that puck has to get to the net, and [Smith] has a knack for doing that, and that's something that you can't teach, it's a natural ability," said Fitzgerald.
Team Red had a chance to get on the board when P.K. Subban was given a penalty shot but Blackwood kept the defenseman's shot out of the back of the net. A minute later, Nikita Gusev intercepted a clearing pass to keep the puck in the Red Team's offensive zone and drove to net but was unable to convert on his opportunity.
After the first 17 minute period, Team White had a commanding 2-0 lead after a strong offensive effort and capitalizing on multiple chances.
Team White made it 3-0 in the first five minutes of the second period. In a rush, Jesper Boqvist got a feed from Janne Kuokkanen and scored.
Team Red responded with a pair of goals, the first a minute and a half later. Andreas Johnsson tapped in the rebound of Kyle Palmieri's shot that was initially stopped by Blackwood. A minute later red scored again, this time from Brett Seney. Seney got a feed from Nick Merkley and Seney converted his opportunity to bring the game within one.
Team White had the first power play opportunity of the night with six minutes left in the second period but were unable to convert.
After a substantial offensive effort in the second period, the Red Team's two goals brought them back into the game, now only down by one.
Before the players left the ice following the second period, both teams had a 1:10 to practice pulling their goalie for a 6-5 advantage. The Red Team was unable to score in their man-up advantage. However when the White Team was up, P.K. Subban scored for the Red team when he's clearing shot went the majority of the ice and into the empty net. However, since this was extra practice for the team, the goal did not count into the score of the game.
Going into the third period, the White team led the Red Team 3-2. Nikita Gusev was once again on the doorstep and close to scoring for Team Red but was unable to tie up the game.
The Red team got their chance at a power play in the final eleven minutes of the game. The team was unable to convert as Team White killed off the penalty.
Nolan Foote on Team White tried to double his team's lead with a beautiful one-timer but it went just wide of the net in the final six minutes of play. Although the red team pulled their goalie in the final minute and had some chances, they were unable to tie the game and Team White pulled away with the win.
"Tonight was, you saw, the 6-on-5 those areas of the game that you don't get to practice all that much, so [we] wanted to kind of implement that in tonight's game. The power play time, the penalty kill time," said GM Fitzgerald.
The 7 p.m. ET start was to simulate a regular season game and the team participated in three 17 minute periods. For Head Coach Lindy Ruff, this final camp game with the fake crowd noise, night start, and atmosphere felt like a regular season game.
"I actually thought the prep going into the game made it fell like a real game. There's a little buzz around the dressing room. I think cameras set up, the tunnel had lights on it," said Ruff. "When I got down on the bench, the heart rate got going. I think the music, the crowd noise on situations was great. At certain times I really felt like there was fans there so you know I thought it was a great job of creating atmosphere."
The players also enjoyed the atmosphere and experience of tonight's game.
"That's the first time for me that I've experienced I guess crowd noise pumped in and things like that so I think they did a good job of it and made it feel more like a game," said Smith.
The team will have Monday off before returning to practice on Tuesday. The 2020-21 NHL season kicks off Wednesday night and the Devils will host the Boston Bruins for their season and home opener on Thursday. For full coverage of the Devils Training Camp and all your Devils news, stay on NewJerseyDevils.com.