Group A Edges Group C with a 5-3 Scrimmage Victory

In the second scrimmage of training camp, Group A edged Group C 5-3 after a wild third period. Forward Alexander Holtz paced Group A with 2 goals.
Joseph Gambardella's one-timer opened the scoring in the first period, giving Group A a 1-0 lead; however, Samuel Laberge with Group C tied things up less than 30 seconds later. Type Thompson would give Group C, a 2-1 lead in the final five minutes of the period. Alexander Holtz looked to tie things up with a shot in the final eight seconds of the first period, but came up short. The Swedish forward's shot beat Nico Daws, but Group C was able to clear it before it crossed the goal line.
The second period started off with a penalty shot after a hi-sticking penalty by Holtz on Miles Wood. Erik Haula took the shot for Wood who left the ice, but returned in the opening period. Haula was stopped big by Mackenzie Blackwood. Team A was able to tie things up in the second period with a goal by Holtz, who tamed a pass and quickly shot to make it 2-2.

Tyler Brennan subbed in for Blackwood halfway through the second period. Blackwood has used every practice, and now scrimmage, as a chance to get his game ready for the upcoming season.
Brennan, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick made several saves throughout the remainder of the middle frame. Following the first two periods of play, Group A held a 15-11 shot advantage over Group C. Daws continued to play in the third period for Group C and Brennan returned for Group A. Filmon earned stick taps from both teams after he blocked a big shot from Thomas Hickey. The Group C forward hopped to the bench, and continue to play in the final period.
Holtz scored his second goal of the game at the 12 minute mark - tucking it home past Daws. Jack Hughes drew three defenders and then passed it to the Swede. Holtz spent the summer working on the speed in which he played, which was apparent on his two goals in this scrimmage.
Dougie Hamilton would increase Group A's lead with a goal in the final five minutes of the third period, to make it 4-2 for the white team. Group C pulled their goalie and after a penalty, Dawson Mercer was granted a penalty shot. Brennan came up with a big glove save to keep the score 4-2 with the advantage for Group A.
However, less than 30 seconds later, Group C scored to make it a one-goal game thanks to Erik Haula. Group C pulls their goalie for the extra skater with a one-goal deficit but Graeme Clarke would seal the win for Team A with an empty net goal in the final minute of the third period.
Group A experience was on display in the win and the veteran players are making sure to help mentor the prospects on their team through training camp.
"(We're) just trying to do the little things right and bring the younger guys along as well because some of them in their first camps and you want to make them feel comfortable because that's when they're going to play their best as soon as they get to feel as comfortable as quick as possible," Gambardella said post-game. "It's an honor any time you get to come to an NHL camp, it's a real honor and privilege and you have to make the most of it."
With the loss, Group C loses both of its intersquad scrimmages; however, it was a much closer game and better effort on Saturday.
"I thought the detail in the scrimmage was better than yesterday for both teams system wise, compete wise, heavier plays on the body, harder on pucks, more stuff we were looking for," said Devils head coach Lindy Ruff following today's on-ice activities.

Holtz is Turning Heads

In his first intersquad scrimmage, Holtz was on a line with Ondrej Palat and Jack Hughes, giving the young forward an opportunity to compete with two key parts of the Devils offense. Through today's game action and the Prospects Challenge, the 2020 draft pick is starting to score and demonstrate his hard work this off-season.
"It feels like a good pace out there. Good couple of practices, and a fun scrimmage today, I'm feeling good right now," Holtz said following "I'm feeling stronger, I'm feeling faster, I think that helps my game a lot. Now I can play with more speed and I feel strong on the puck so I can handle it by myself sometimes. I'm really comfortable with the work I put in this summer and I'm ready to go."
Coach Ruff will continue to watch how Holtz shows up and performs throughout camp, but is seeing great progress.
"He's got to continue to get better. Pace of play, strong on pucks, those are the things he's worked hard on improving (this summer)," said Ruff following the scrimmage. "We saw some real good things in Buffalo and now we've seen some good things in a couple days here through practice and the scrimmage."

Blackwood on Getting Back His Game

After playing injured and then missing time due to his heel, Blackwood is using every opportunity at training camp to refine his game ahead of the season. After his first game action in Saturday's scrimmage, the goaltender is happy with his progress.
"I feel physically good, now for me it's just cleaning up the details, fine tuning stuff, getting game speed. Physically I'm capable of doing everything its' just a matter of dialing in the small details and getting my game crisp," said Blackwood. "It's really important especially since I didn't play a lot last year and I was playing with an injury, so some things weren't where i wanted them to be. So it's very important for me to treat every practice and (scrimmage) like it's a game."
There's still plenty of time in training camp for Blackwood to continue to adjust and improve, but Ruff has been impressed by several things off the bat.
"He's moving around well, attitude has been great, work ethic has been excellent," said Ruff on Blackwood's training camp so far. "But overall, just keep progressing. We don't expect everything in one day, or one scrimmage, or half a scrimmage but we're evaluating on practices and I just think he'll keep feeling better and better."