Avalanche News
How Mackenzie Blackwood Gave Avs a ‘Chance to Win’

Mackenzie Blackwood’s third regulation loss since joining the Avalanche was the first game he allowed more than two goals. Despite making 24 saves on 28 shots, Colorado failed to maintain a three-goal lead and lost 4-3 to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.
Blackwood was not so much frustrated from having made some stellar saves only to lose in the end, it was more the way the game unfolded.
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“I think it’s more just the way it happened. Had a lead, just let it slide the rest of the game so I think that’s more of a frustrating thing. I don’t think personally it’s frustrating when you make saves like that,” Blackwood said. “I think it’s more just losing a game where we had control of it, and then just letting them back in. So I think that’s more frustrating.”
Nathan MacKinnon said the Oilers “outplayed” them and “deserved to win that game.” He scored two of the three Avs’ goals, but Edmonton prevailed in the end. Head coach Jared Bednar placed no fault on Blackwood, even for a goal the netminder may not have been happy about.
“You’ve got some elite shooters on the other side. And we did give up a number of high dangerous scoring chances. He made some big saves on a few of them, and some got by him,” Bednar said. “Even the first goal โ we deflect like it’s going one way, and we kind of change the direction off our stick, which that’s a little bit more unfortunate. He would say he wants it back, but I understand why it slipped through him because he’s moving and changes direction.”
How Blackwood Handles Breakdowns
Goaltenders are a different breed. The position demands a unique mindset. Some goalies exude calmness off the ice but flip a switch during games, unleashing controlled aggression. Blackwood strikes a remarkable balance between these extremes. He remains unshaken even when his team struggles in front of him. His ability to stay composed under pressure and maintain focus sets him apart.
“I just play my own game. Whatever happens in front of me, they know when things go wrong. I don’t need to tell them …,” the 28-year-old said. “It’s not really my job to yell at them or anything like that. They know, everyone’s accountable. So that’s not really my thing.
“I’m the opposite. I try to be more encouraging. Someone makes a mistake or something โ all good, shake it off, we’ll bounce back. That’s kind of more the approach I take.”
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Blackwood has provided consistent goaltending that has anchored the team in crucial moments, which is refreshing while it deals with rotating injuries. His steadiness and effort have been instrumental in shifting the teamโs dynamic.