The Anaheim Ducks’ new fans are proving to be an adventurous bunch. A Ducks-Devils preseason game in Newark got off to a slow start on Tuesday night with traffic detours slowing the arrival of the crowd, but a late rally by the visitors from California turned out to be just enough for a 3-2 shootout win.
The crowd of approximately 3,500 had arrived nearly an hour late in the morning. Scores of cars sat idling along Route 1 as the duo of Drake Caggiula and Steven Janes went around the Devils’ bench.
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Caggiula had just taken a third-period penalty that put the Devils on the power play and scored 12 seconds later to tie the game and give the Devils their first lead of the night, but Anaheim’s new look penalty kill proved again to be the team’s undoing in the first overtime period when Brett Ritchie sent a long shot through the Ducks’ wall and into the top corner to send the game to a second extra period.
Ryan Ellis pulled the Devils to within one with 2:39 remaining in the second overtime period and Pacioretty scored in the shootout to lift New Jersey to a win.
But despite a solid performance, Devils rookie Mackenzie Blackwood was defeated after Nick Ritchie and David Perron scored in the shootout. For Anaheim’s John Gibson, the rematch proved to be a tough one after throwing a handful of punch.