Mackenzie Blackwood Set to Start Game 4 for Avalanche
Mackenzie Blackwood appears set to start Game 4 for the Colorado Avalanche on Monday after taking shots in the traditional starter’s net at morning skate. Scott Wedgewood came through the skater rotation after him, and Jared Bednar answered questions Monday morning as if Blackwood would get the net.
Blackwood Takes the Starter’s Net
Blackwood came in relief of Wedgewood in the second period of Game 3 and stopped 12 of 13 shots he faced. That was the latest sign the Avalanche are prepared to change their crease plan after Wedgewood started their first seven playoff games.
Bednar did not spell it out in plain terms, but he made clear why the club has leaned on both goalies. “If you’re looking at Wedge’s track record, it’s been great for us,” he said Monday morning. “But it’s not starter role all the time. He’s done a great job when he’s gone in the net and played for us.”
Wedgewood’s Numbers Shift
Wedgewood still carried strong regular-season work into the playoffs. He and Blackwood split time during the season, and the Avalanche won the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed in the league. Wedgewood led the league with a.921 save percentage in the regular season, while Blackwood posted a.904 save percentage in 39 regular-season games.
The postseason split has been less even. Wedgewood put up a.950 save percentage in four games against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, then followed that with an.861 save percentage through three games against the Minnesota Wild in this round. That drop opened the door for Blackwood after his relief work in Game 3.
Josh Manson Back, Eriksson Ek Out
The goaltending change comes with Colorado getting one defenseman back and Minnesota missing one center. Josh Manson has been out since the Kings series with an upper-body injury, but he is available for Game 4. Bednar said, “The size and physicality and the ability to close plays out and get you in and out of your zone a little quicker is, for me, the most beneficial thing he can bring for us.”
Joel Eriksson Ek remained sidelined for the Wild with a lower-body injury. Colorado forward Jack Drury said the Avalanche expect the same burden in front of whichever goalie starts. “We’ve got good confidence in both of them,” he said Sunday. “It’s a luxury to have two good goalies, and they’ve both shown all year that they can make big saves and show up for us in big moments.”
Bednar also said Joel Kiviranta is an option because of an undisclosed injury, and Cale Makar missed morning skate for maintenance. The goalie call changes the look of Game 4 immediately, with Blackwood now in position to handle the next start after stepping in cleanly in Game 3.
