Blackwood’s Recovery Update
In Denver, coach Jared Bednar announced on Tuesday that Mackenzie Blackwood’s recovery from an offseason surgery to address a lower-body injury has been slower than expected. This development follows observations made by fans and analysts at recent practices regarding Blackwood’s condition. On September 5, he was seen taking shots during an optional skate session, although his participation was limited, leading to concerns about his fitness as teammate Scott Wedgewood took most of the practice shots.
Setbacks and Surgery Confirmation
A week later, Blackwood was found to be skating with the injured players, and during a preseason game broadcast by the Vegas Golden Knights on September 30, it was revealed he had undergone surgery. Prior to this confirmation, observers noted he struggled to push off his right leg, indicating potential issues with his recovery. Blackwood returned to team practices on October 6 but was unable to join the full squad for training camp or the preseason games.
Bednar elaborated in an interview with The Hockey News, stating that Blackwood experienced a setback during his recovery process. He pointed out that Blackwood’s rehabilitation was slow over the summer, highlighting issues that led to adjustments in his rehabilitation approach—”He got on the ice in early August, and things weren’t feeling as good as what they probably should’ve been,” Bednar noted. Thankfully, no serious complications have arisen since the adjustment.
Season Debut and Future Outlook
After months of delay, Blackwood made his season debut on Saturday, where he blocked 20 shots in a closely contested 3-2 overtime defeat against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old, who entered the league with the New Jersey Devils in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, played as the backup during a prior match against the Vegas Golden Knights, where Wedgewood secured a win.
Looking ahead, Wedgewood will start against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday evening. With a record of 7-1-2 and a goals against average of 2.55 in 11 starts this season, Wedgewood aims to regain his early-season form. Meanwhile, Bednar acknowledged Blackwood still needs time to get back into form, stating that this week’s practices will be essential for his reintegration into gameplay, particularly as the Avalanche prepare for road games against the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks later on.
Bednar expressed optimism about Blackwood’s progression, remarking that this week offers the most practice time they have had this season, which should assist Blackwood in adjusting to game scenarios.
Last season, Blackwood had a notable performance with a 2.33 goals against average and .913 save percentage, marking his success following his transfer from the San Jose Sharks, concluding with a 22-12-3 record.
As the Avalanche continue their campaign, fans will be watching closely to see how Blackwood’s performance improves as he shakes off the rust from a challenging recovery period.
