Colorado Avalanche Welcome Back Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood
The Colorado Avalanche are set to welcome back their starting goaltender, Mackenzie Blackwood, as they prepare to face the Nashville Predators on Friday. This marks the first time in over two weeks that the team will have its complete goaltending roster available. Blackwood’s return comes after six games on injured reserve, a status he was placed under prior to a challenging three-game road trip for the Avalanche, during which they managed only one victory and faced additional injuries to key players like Gabe Landeskog and Devon Toews.
Blackwood’s Activation and Recent Performance
On Wednesday, the Avalanche announced Blackwood’s activation from injured reserve, signaling his full participation in practice on Thursday. In conjunction with this move, Trent Miner has been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate. Blackwood’s last performance occurred on December 31, where he showcased his skills by stopping 12 of 13 shots in a decisive 6–1 victory against the St. Louis Blues.
Team Performance During Blackwood’s Absence
During Blackwood’s absence, the Avalanche maintained a record of 3 wins, 2 losses, and 1 overtime defeat. Scott Wedgewood took over as the starting goaltender for the three road games, and Miner contributed significantly by securing his first NHL win with a shutout against the Columbus Blue Jackets and later faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in a close 4–3 overtime loss.
Blackwood’s Impressive Stats and Career
Before his injury, the 29-year-old Blackwood was performing impressively in the league, notching a 13–1–1 record with a solid .924 save percentage and a remarkable 2.07 goals-against average, ranking him at the top of the NHL prior to his sidelining. Blackwood, who joined the Avalanche during the 2024–25 season after previous stints with the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, has an overall record of 116–104–29 and a career save percentage of .907.
Avalanche’s Current Standing and Upcoming Games
As the Avalanche stand tall in the league rankings with a notable 33–8–4 record, they sit at the summit of the NHL with 74 points, an impressive 11 points ahead of the Dallas Stars, who have played two more games. Looking to solidify their performance and build momentum during their ongoing eight-game homestand, the Avalanche aim to rise above their current 3–2–1 record in January when they go head-to-head with the Predators on Friday, marking the fourth game of this homestand before they hit the road for another four matches.
