10 Takeaways: Starting Blackwood Again Was Smart Move By Bednar
Mar 26, 2026; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) blocks a shot by Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) in the second period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images Mackenzie Blackwood wasn’t in a good place before the road trip. The Avalanche’s usual starting netminder had been poor in three consecutive starts.
And if you include a fourth appearance in relief against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Blackwood had stopped just 54-of-68 shots over a 10-day stretch. That’s a . 794 save percentage.
It was that bad. Blackwood had fallen so much in that time that head coach Jared Bednar went with Scott Wedgewood against the Dallas Stars on March 18 in what was, at the time, the biggest game of the season. Wedgewood was pulled two nights earlier for giving up three goals on five shots and still got the nod.
He had the coach’s confidence far more than Blackwood did. It was no secret. He’s the guy to go with right now, in my opinion,” Bednar said at the time.
On the four-game trip, Bednar gave Blackwood three starts. Against Winnipeg, Blackwood was able to avenge the loss to that same team in that very same building from earlier in the month. He finished the trip 3-0, giving up just five goals on 66 shots (.
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