Mackenzie Blackwood News

Blackwood has not played a game since January 19th but was back on the ice for Monday's practice after being activated from the COVID-19 reserve list. Head coach Lindy Ruff would not say if Blackwood would start in their first game back, so monitor his status during Tuesday's morning skate.

Blackwood was outstanding in the Devils’ season opener, stopping 35 of the 37 shots that he faced in the shootout loss to the Bruins. Boston dominated the game but Blackwood stood tall and kept the Devils alive. He will likely be under siege again this afternoon in the rematch.

Blackwood came into 2021 expecting to split time with Corey Crawford but could become a workhorse after Crawford retired prior to the start of the season. Blackwood performed well in 2020, going 22-14-8 with a 2.77 GAA and .915 SV%. He enters the season with a career .916 SV% in 70 appearances, so he should make for a low-end No.2/high-end No.3 fantasy netminder but draws a tough matchup vs. the Bruins on opening night.

Blackwood allowed four goals on 35 shots in the Devils win in New York on Saturday. Blackwood is now an impressive 7-1-1 while posting a 1.76 GAA, .953 SV% and two shutouts in his last nine starts. Tonight he faces the Penguins for the third time this season--he is 1-1-0 while giving up five goals on 75 shots (.933 SV%) in the first two meetings of the season.

Blackwood allowed three goals on 32 shots in the Devils loss in Vegas on Tuesday. Since the start of February, Blackwood has gone 6-1-1 while leading the NHL in GAA (1.48) and SV% (.961). Against the Rangers this year, Blackhawks has gone 1-2-0 while giving up 10 goals on 78 shots (.872 SV%).

Blackwood allowed two goals on 38 shots in the Devils loss in Los Angeles on Saturday. Blackwood was on an absolute heater in February, going 6-0-1 with a 1.27 GAA, .967 SV% and two shutouts in his last seven starts. In his first start vs. the Golden Knights, Blackwood surrendered four goals on 30 shots in a 4-3 loss (Dec.3).

Blackwood allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Devils win over the Capitals last Saturday. Cory Schneider started the first two games of the week but Blackwood will face the Kings on Saturday afternoon. Blackwood is riding a six-game winning streak with an amazing 1.15 GAA, .970 SV% and two shutouts. Now he faces a Kings team that has gone 4-2-1 with 3.00 goals per game in their last seven games.

Blackwood stopped all 46 shots that he faced in the Devils shutout win in Philadelphia on Thursday. It was an impressive performance for Blackwood, who had been struggling prior to that game. He has gone 5-7-7 with a 3.07 GAA and .892 SV% one home ice this season and gets ready to face a Kings team that is 1-7-1 in their last nine games.