Avalanche Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood Activated Off IR

For the first time in more than two weeks, the Avalanche’s goaltending tandem will be intact when Colorado hosts the Nashville Predators on Friday.

Starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood was activated off injury reserve on Wednesday and will rejoin the team as a full participant for Thursday’s practice. With Blackwood back and Scott Wedgewood ready to go, the Avs reassigned Trent Miner to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.

Blackwood has not played since New Year’s Eve, when the Avalanche defeated the St. Louis Blues 6-1. He was put on IR before Colorado hit the road for a three-game road trip. The Avs were 1-2-0 on that trip, and saw injuries to Gabe Landeskog and Devon Toews pile on.

In total, the Avs were 3-2-1 in Blackwood’s absence. Wedgewood played all three of the games on the road and was in goal when the Avalanche began their seven-game homestand against the Ottawa Senators.

The last two games went to Miner. He shutout the Columbus Blue Jackets to earn his first career NHL win, and followed that up with a 4-3 OT loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Avalanche play their next four games at home before hitting the road for four games.