Aarif Deen
DENVER — Mackenzie Blackwood admittedly had a slow start to the Avalanche’s 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
He didn’t have a terrible game, but he conceded two goals that usually wouldn’t have gotten past him. The issue he’s running into is a lack of playing time. And it’s not because of a lack of trust from the coaching staff.
“My body feels good, just need some minutes to get my mojo back, and every game I play, I feel a little bit better,” Blackwood said.
He’s only started three games since returning because the other goalie, Scott Wedgewood, is playing spectacular hockey for the Avs. How does Jared Bednar manage Blackwood’s minutes to get him back into a rhythm with Wedgewood having the best start of his career?
It’s easy for the coach. Bednar didn’t hesitate with how he’s going to handle it moving forward.
READ MORE: The Aftermath: Brindley, Necas Star in Avalanche’s Fifth Straight Win
10 Observations
1. Basically, Blackwood had just told the media that the more ice time and games he gets, the more his game will come to him. Bednar’s response was exactly the kind of thing you want to hear from your coach. He has 20+ players to manage at any given time. Some, like Zakhar Bardakov or Blackwood, for example, might not be getting the ice time they want or need. But the coach’s job is to put the team first.
As tough as it is for Blackwood to work his way back from a full offseason of rehab, it’s mid-November, and Bednar has a No. 1 team in the NHL to put before any individual player.
Here’s what Bednar had to say. I do want to preface it by saying it reads a lot more harsh than it actually sounds when you watch the postgame presser.
“I hate to sound cruel, but that’s a Blacky problem at this point. It’s not a problem for me,” Bednar said. “I have lots of confidence in Blacky, and I know there’s lots of minutes between here and the end of the season, right? But Wedge is playing great, so I’m not going to not play Wedge, to play Blacky.”
2. Is this going to prolong the time needed for Blackwood to get his full game back? Perhaps. That’s what happens when you miss all of training camp and preseason. Bednar isn’t ready to fully commit to Blackwood as his everyday starter like he was last season. But it sure sounds like the coach is prepared to ride the tandem to get them both going.
“Those minutes [he needs] come in practice and hard work. He’s been doing that, and he’ll get his games. And if we have to, we’ll alternate him. But like, Wedge is rested and ready to go for Sunday. I’m not gonna not play him because Blacky needs minutes. There’s plenty of time to give him the minutes. Right now, we’re gonna play a rested goalie. And play the goalie that gives us a really good chance.”
Again, it reads harsher than it sounds. Blackwood isn’t upset with the coach, nor is the coach aggravated with his goalie by any means. But Wedgewood’s start to the season has made this a longer process for Blackwood. And the funny thing is, it might end up paying off immensely for the Avs to have Blackwood more rested as the season progresses anyway.
Still, I don’t doubt that we’ll see an eventual stretch of games where Blackwood is starting six, seven, or even eight in a row. It’s just hard to do that right now while Wedgewood is playing as well as he is. You have to ride the hot hand, but also not overplay Wedgewood.
3. I can’t believe how good a problem this is for the Avs to have right now. Truly.
Think back to this time last year. The Avs pretty much had two unplayable goalies in Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen. Neither could stop a puck.
Now they’re in a position where the backup is playing so well that it’s hard to give the starter, off an offseason injury, consecutive starts in a row. It’s a great problem to have. And it’s a long season. It’ll get figured out.
4. Gavin Brindley wasted little time making his presence felt in the top six. He scored the game-winner and added a beautiful assist on the Brock Nelson goal.
The 21-year-old rookie has three goals and three assists for six points in his last six games. And in one of those six games, he only played four minutes before leaving with a concussion.
5. I thought Byram was incredible for the Sabres. He scored a big goal early. He got under Nathan MacKinnon’s skin throughout the night, and he drew two penalties. I’ve always loved the bite Byram had to him, and I’m really curious to see how his career goes over the next half a decade.
Like many players in Buffalo, it might not take off until he finds his way onto a different team.
The second penalty Byram drew was on MacKinnon in the second period when Colorado’s No. 1 center swung his stick at the blueliner. I hated everything about that penalty. MacKinnon obviously hated what happened earlier in that sequence, but you’re never going to get away with that. And MacKinnon knows that.
Tage Thompson scored on the ensuing power play to make it 3-3. You’d be surprised to learn that it was just the second power-play goal Colorado has surrendered on home ice all year. The Avs entered this game with a 94.7% PK rate at Ball Arena.
6. Nelson scoring is good. Very good. He’s quietly making more plays on the offensive side with each passing game. His defensive metrics have been great all year, which is also essential. But having him get more going offensively should also be a priority.
7. I had no issue with the coach’s challenge from Bednar on the waved-off Gabe Landeskog goal. I figured he wouldn’t win it, but it was still nice to see him do that for the captain. It’s remarkable that Landeskog has already had three called back in only 18 games.
8. Kudos to Martin Necas for passing off the hat trick goal for Landeskog to score into the empty net. That’s regular-season goal No. 250 for No. 92.
9. Necas had two goals and two assists, bringing his season totals to 12 goals, 12 assists, and 24 points. He’s now tied with Makar and others for the eighth-most points in the league.
As for his goals, only one player in the NHL has more than 12, and it’s his centerman.
10. MacKinnon now has points in 34 consecutive appearances at Ball Arena. This dates all the way back to Dec. 12, 2024. It’s technically not a home point streak in the NHL record books because he sat out the home finale last April, which nullifies the streak.
But still. In the last 34 games MacKinnon has played for the home crowd, he’s recorded at least a point in each one. He has 22 goals, 36 assists, and 58 points in those 34 games — insane numbers.