San Jose Sharks place goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood on injured reserve, call up Magnus Chrona from AHL
One of the top goaltenders on an already struggling team is going to be out for a few games.
On Wednesday, the San Jose Sharks announced that Mackenzie Blackwood is being placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.
In an ensuing move, the team called up netminder Magnus Chrona from their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
Blackwood was injured during Tuesday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Late in the first period, the 27-year-old left the game during a TV timeout, and did not return.
Blackwood made this save before the break, but is unclear if he was hurt on this play or sometime before.
Blackwood came out of the game after appearing to be injured on this play pic.twitter.com/7bj3fYyohP
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) February 28, 2024Kaapo Kahkonen came in to finish the game, giving up seven goals on 29 shots in a 7-2 loss.
With the injury retroactive to Feb. 27, Blackwood will miss, at minimum, the next three games, and is eligible to return on March 7 against the New York Islanders.
Like the rest of the Sharks, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native has struggled for most of the season. Even though he had won four of his last five starts, Blackwood had a 9-18-3 record, with a 3.48 goals-against average, an .899 save percentage and one shutout.
Blackwood came to the Sharks after being traded during the 2023 NHL Draft last June, after spending the first five seasons of his NHL career with the Devils. In 187 appearances, he has a 74-75-21 record with a 3.06 GAA, .904 SV% and nine shutouts.
Chrona has appeared in two games already this season, making his NHL debut in relief of Blackwood on Nov. 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The former Denver Pioneer earned his first start in the league on Dec. 28, giving up four goals on 16 shots in a loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
In 24 games with the Barracuda this season, Chrona is 5-13-4 with a 3.51 GAA and .892 SV%.
The Sharks (15-37-5) are set to host the rival Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. They are currently at the bottom of the Pacific Division, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the worst record in the league.