GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins treated a sold-out crowd of more than 10,800 fans to an entertaining scrimmage Sunday at Van Andel Arena.

The fans did not seem to care who won, as there were Red Wings and Griffins players on both Team White and Team Red. But it was Team White that skated away with a 3-2 victory after two 20-minute regulation periods and a five-round shootout that was scheduled before the game began. Left wing Elmer Soderblom, the 24-year-old, 6-foot-8 Swedish left wing who last year played 26 games with the Red Wings – the Griffins’ parent club – tallied twice for Team White. He signed a two-year contract extension with Detroit in July. Griffins’ center Amadeus Lombardi registered two assists for Team White.

Red Wings’ star left wing Alex DeBrincat scored a first-period goal for Team White, and flashed his speed and quick stickwork on multiple occasions during the scrimmage. Jonatan Berggren and Emmitt Finnie put the biscuit in the basket for Team Red. Dylin Larkin and Lucas Raymond registered assists.

Patrick Kane set up the game’s first goal just 3:10 into the opening period with one of his patented passes to Alex DeBrincat, who lifted it over goaltender Cam Talbot’s left shoulder.

A few minutes later, Elmer Soderblom zipped a shot between the legs of Talbot to make it 2-0 for Team White.

Right wing Jonatan Berggren put Team Red on the board with 6:28 to go int he first after taking a no-look pass from William Lagesson, making it 2-1.

It didn’t take long into the second period, though, for Team White to expand the lead back to two goals. Amaedus Lombardi flipped the puck out of the goal mouth to Soderblom in the slot, who shot it home to make it 3-1 just 1:40 into the period. Closing out the regulation-time scoring for Team Red was left wing Emmitt Finnie, who – with 3:37 left in the 2nd period – shot the puck past Michael Postava. He had taken over in net for John Gibson.

The Red Wings will begin their NHL preseason schedule on Tuesday night at home against the Chicago Blackhawks, at 7 p.m. The Griffins will being their 30th campaign at the Texas Stars on Friday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. EST. Grand Rapids will return to Van Andel Arena for Opening Night on Friday, Oct. 17 when the Manitoba Moose come calling to G.R.

POST-GAME REMARKS:

Larkin said after the game he was wowed by the Grand Rapids crowd.

“An unbelievable atmosphere, I’m not surprised, knowing the hockey fans here in Grand Rapids,” Larkin said in a post-game media briefing. “I’m sure there’s people that just drove from all over the west side of the state or all over the state to come and watch and cheers us on today. So, that was really special and something I think I’ll always remember … I think we’re tired of playing against each other, and ready to get into the pre-season games.”

“For a Red & White Game, it was a productive game to get back on, like an NHL ice surface and something we’re more familiar with.”

Larkin complimented Red Wings’ prized prospect Axel Sandin-Pelikka, who is assigned to the Griffins.

“He’s a smart player, really smart. You see the way he moves on the power play and see how he walks the blue (line). I’ve been impressed with the way he breaks the puck out. I think he’s gotten better every day,” Larkin said.

Soderblom enjoyed the turnout and support from the fans at Van Andel Arena.

“It was real fun. It was fun to see all the fans here. A full crowd, so it was unbelievable,” he said.

Forward Emmitt Finnie scored a goal and reflected on the experience after the game.

“I wanted to come to the camp and prove that I’m ready for pro hockey,” he said.

Finnie added that it has been great playing with veterans like Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin.

“Their leadership has been huge. They’ve been talking to me a lot on the ice, giving me pointers. So, that just shows who those guys are.”

Assistant Coach Alex Tanguay said the training camp was good.

“I thought playing every day raised their competitive juices a little bit. For the most part, it was a very competitive camp. We’ve asked guys to give us their best; show us why you need to be in the NHL, leave us a calling card. Some of the guys have.”

———GAME SUMMARY:

[4:30pm] Team White wins, 3-2, versus Team Red after a pre-scheduled shootout following a 1-hour, 21-minute scrimmage game at Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids. Crowd obviously thrilled, getting to see the Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena for the first time since 2011. Some Red Wings & Griffins played on both teams. [All photos by Steve Katerberg; narration by James Gemmell]

Shootout: Lucas Raymond scores for Team White to get things going in the first round. Marco Kasper scores a dazzling goal on the other end for Team Red, to make it 1-1 in the shootout. Kasper, Copp and Lombardi scored for Team White in the shootout. Raymond and Berggren tallied for Team Red in the shootout, so 3-2 in favor of Team White in the shootout.

[4:22pm] The 2nd period ends with the score, 3-2, in favor of Team White. Team Red with a flurry at the end in a stymied attempt to tie it. That ends regulation in this scrimmage contest: a five-round shootout is up next.

[4:18pm] A 2-on-1 for Team Red with 3:37 to go in the 2nd stanza and Emmitt Finnie makes no mistake, scoring for Team Red to pull them to within a goal, 3-2. Raymond and Larkin with the assists.

[4:13pm] Mason Appleton with Team White with a brilliant attempted walk in on Team Red’s goal, threading through defenders but – alas – he is thwarted in his effort to get a shot off on Cossa.

[4:11pm] Timeout with 9:21 to go in the 2nd period. Team White leads in shots on goal, 17-10.

[4:02pm] DeBrincat with a two-minute tripping penalty imposed against Team White 4:18 into the 2nd period. Team Red fails to capitalize.

[4pm] Elmer Soderblom scores his second goal of the game for Team White just 1:40 into the second stanza, giving White a 3-1 lead. Amadeus Lombardi with the assist.

[3:40pm] The period ends with Team White leading Team Red, 2-1. And with a 14-8 lead in shots on goal. This scrimmage game sold out two weeks ago.

[3:38pm] Axel Sandin-Pellikka called for a high-sticking penalty with 2:08 to go in the first period. A moment later, Mo Sieder takes exception to J.T. Compher stealing his stick deep in Team Red’s zone, and they had to be separated.

[3:31pm] Jonatan Berggren [Photo below] gets Team Red on the board with a quick wrist shot from right out in front with 6:28 left in the opening period.

[3:29pm] New Red Wings’ goalie with a sprawling save for Team White with 7:50 to go in the opening period in Grand Rapids.

[3:20pm] Elmer Soderblom tallies the second goal of the game for Team White tallied again 8:06 in the first period, making it 2-0 for Team White. Amadeus Lombardi and Antti Tuomisto with the assists.

[3:14pm] The Red Wings’ Alex DeBrincat lights the lamp 3:10 into the opening stanza at Van Andel Arena, snapping a wrister into the upper-right corner of the crease to beat goalie Cam Talbot. That goal for Team White at the first Red & White scrimmage in G.R. since 2011. Marco Kasper and Patrick Kane had the assists.

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