Mackenzie Blackwood has gone from Avalanche kid to Avalanche history-maker, and the latest chapter came Saturday night in Denver.
The Colorado goalie blanked the Detroit Red Wings in a 4-0 win at Ball Arena, turning aside every shot he faced to collect his seventh shutout with the Avalanche. That pushed him into a tie for sixth on the franchise’s all-time shutout list, alongside Alexandar Georgiev and Craig Anderson. It was also the 18th shutout of Blackwood’s NHL career.
Blackwood’s rise in Colorado has already produced a few eye-catching runs. Last season, he posted back-to-back shutouts twice.
The first came on January 31 and February 2, highlighted by a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues.
He did it again in November, shutting out the Nashville Predators 3-0 and the San Jose Sharks 6-0.
His place in the Avalanche record book is getting crowded with some big names. Blackwood’s seven shutouts put him behind Peter Budaj, who has nine, Phillip Grubauer with 12, David Aebischer with 13, Semyon Varlamov with 21 and Roy, who leads the way with 37.
After the game, Blackwood was asked what it means to represent the organization and move up the franchise’s list.
“It’s awesome,” he stated after the game. “This was my favorite organization growing up as a kid, so it means a lot to me. My room was painted the colors of this team right when I was a little guy, so it’s pretty special.”
He’s also putting together a strong season in the crease. Through 14 appearances, Blackwood is 9-3-1 with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.
The last 10 games have been even better. Over that stretch, he’s 7-1-1 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage after working through some early-season struggles.
If that level holds, a Vezina Trophy nomination isn’t out of the question.
Not a bad place to be for someone who grew up dreaming of playing in Colorado.
In Other News...
Cale Makar Just Gave The Avalanche A New Reason To Worry
Cale Makars exit from Avalanche practice with an apparent lower-body injury was enough to send a jolt through a team already trying to manage a tricky stretch. Colorado has been dealing with roster challenges tied to other injuries and cap constraints, so even a precautionary issue with its top defenseman lands with extra weight. The coach framed the move as cautious, with more evaluation to come before the next game.
For a club built around Makars impact at both ends of the ice, any uncertainty around his status immediately changes the conversation. The Avalanche do not have much margin for error in the lineup right now, which is why even a brief scare at practice becomes a storyline worth watching closely as game time approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face A Tough Lehkonen Decision Before It Gets Harder
Artturi Lehkonen has become one of those Avalanche players whose value is easy to see and harder to keep. If Colorado decides his next contract would be too expensive to fit into the future, the front office could be forced into a difficult choice before the offseason even arrives, especially with a player who brings the kind of two-way reliability contenders tend to covet.
The market could make that decision even trickier. Chicago is reportedly looking for offensive help and might be willing to part with high draft picks for a player like Lehkonen, but there are no confirmed talks or deals between the clubs right now. Any potential move would also have to navigate Lehkonen's no-trade clause, which gives Colorado another layer to consider as it weighs whether to hold on or cash in. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Bednars Avalanche Run Says Everything About Colorados Patience
Jared Bednars 800th regular-season game behind the Avalanche bench was more than a round-number milestone. It was a reminder of how much Colorado has valued continuity since hiring him in 2016, even when the early results were rough and the patience around the program was being tested. The organization stayed the course, and Bednars tenure has since become one of the defining constants of the franchise.
The payoff for that patience was never clearer than the Stanley Cup run in 2022, when the Avalanche turned years of steady development into the sports ultimate prize. Reaching this latest benchmark only underscores how unusual that kind of long-term coaching relationship can be in the NHL, and how much Colorado has trusted Bednar to guide the team through both the growing pains and the success that followed. [Read more 🡒]