10 Takeaways: Bednar Gambled on Blackwood and It Paid Off

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Mackenzie Blackwood hadn’t started a game in nearly a month when he was handed the reins in a pivotal Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild on Monday. For stretches of his 18-month tenure with the Colorado Avalanche, he has been among the most dominant goalies in the league. But his shaky play after the Olympic break is a large part of why Scott Wedgewood got the nod in the opening seven games of the postseason.

Head coach Jared Bednar’s decision to go back to Blackwood was built largely on trust in his tandem, trust in Blackwood’s ability to bounce, and on his team to help support the goalie. It paid off. “He was great.

I think he went in the net and did exactly what I was hoping he would do,” Bednar said. “Like I said before, he had some really strong practices in the last week, he’s had some time to prepare, he’s in-tune with what’s going on in the series, and done his homework. I thought that he went in and played a great game for us.

” Blackwood stopped 19-of-21 shots faced in Game 4 after getting 12 of 13 in his Game 3 relief appearance. It was clear after Game 3 that Bednar was contemplating the change. It’s likely he’s not thinking as much about it now.