Mackenzie Blackwood has been a top goaltender in the NHL since arriving in Colorado
Mar 7, 2025, 9:35 AM | Updated: 9:35 am
Finding consistency in between the pipes has been troubling for the Colorado Avalanche over recent years. When general manager Chris MacFarland went out and got goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in a trade with the San Jose Sharks in December and then immediately signed him to a contract extension, it showed that he was tired of his team having sub-par goaltending.
So far, the investment has paid off.
Blackwood picks up his 23rd win of the season, a new career high. Previous best was 22 with New Jersey in 2019-20. Blackwood’s 23 wins are tied for 7th in @NHL
17 of his 23 wins have come with the @Avalanche – tied for 2nd most wins since Dec. 14 behind Connor Hellebuyck (18) https://t.co/Dyu13ieFZd
— Brendan McNicholas (@bmcnich) March 7, 2025
Despite some ups and downs on the defensive end, Blackwood’s presence has been a season-changing experience for Colorado. The 28-year-old has posted a .921 save percentage in the 26 games he’s played in an Avalanche sweater, featuring a pair of shutout victories.
It’s also a good sign to be named alongside Connor Hellebuyck, who was won the Vezina Award twice for being the best goaltender in the NHL.
Blackwood’s .921 save percentage is also the exact same number that Darcy Kuemper had in the 2021-22 season when he was in net for the Stanley Cup winning Avalanche.
The trade set in even more for Avalanche fans on Thursday when the San Jose Sharks came to Ball Arena with former Avalanche goaltender Alexander Georgiev in the net.
It wasn’t pretty.
The Avs rattled off seven goals in Thursday’s victory, five of which came in the first 30 minutes of the game, and brought back the nickname of “Fourgiev” amongst Avalanche fans.
Georgiev had recently spoke about how he felt that the trust in the goaltending had “evaporated” towards the end of his Avalanche tenure, and he proved the fans right on Thursday.
While Blackwood has been great for the Avs in the regular season, all that matters is how he performs when the lights are the brightest, which was highlighted by the Avalanche last year.
After winning the Vezina in 2024, Hellebuyck was exposed by the Avalanche, allowing 5.23 goals per game in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Losing focus for a single playoff series can totally change how a fanbase looks at their goaltender. For now, Blackwood has shown his ability to be a top goalie, but the true test will be in the playoffs.
