Mackenzie Blackwood (© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/8e199883-8469-4e47-a840-05ce14e3aac3.jpeg] Mackenzie Blackwood (© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images) Earlier this season, former New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/] goalie Mackenzie Blackwood was traded to the Colorado Avalanche by the San Jose Sharks. The move was understandable, as the Avalanche desperately needed help between the pipes, while the Sharks were willing to move Blackwood because of his then-pending unrestricted free agent status. The decision to acquire Blackwood certainly has benefited the Avalanche. In 37 regular-season appearances with Colorado after the move this campaign, he had a 22-12-3 record, a 2.33 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage, and three shutouts. Due to this impressive play, Blackwood earned a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension with the Avalanche, which kicks in next season. Now, Blackwood has gotten the playoffs started on the right foot for the Avalanche. In Game 1 against the Dallas Stars, Blackwood stepped up big time, saving 23 out of 24 shots he faced. That equates to an impressive .958 save percentage on the night. Blackwood made multiple incredible saves [https://x.com/JesseGranger_/status/1913763709140471854] in the process and undoubtedly played a significant role in the Avalanche's 5-1 win over Dallas. Now, Blackwood and the Avalanche will look to keep this kind of play up when they face the Stars next for Game 2 on April 21. Blackwood was selected by the Devils [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwpeDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] with the 42nd overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In 152 games as a Devil over five seasons, he had a 65-57-18 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.97 goals-against average. His time in New Jersey came to an end during the 2023 NHL off-season when he was traded to the Sharks for a sixth-round pick. Recent Devils News New Jersey Devils Star Entering Playoffs Red-Hot [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/850fa536-38e2-4778-bbc4-3f07d812c92b.jpeg] New Jersey Devils Star Entering Playoffs Red-Hot While Timo Meier's numbers were a bit lower than expected for his standards this campaign, he was still one of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/">New Jersey Devils</a>' top offensive contributors. In 80 regular-season games, the 6-foot-1 winger finished third on the Devils with 26 goals and fourth on the team with 53 points. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/new-jersey-devils-star-entering-playoffs-red-hot] Former Devils Goalie Has Thrived With New Team [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fa0009c8-6d52-47ce-a9f5-0974e8b62a54.jpeg] Former Devils Goalie Has Thrived With New Team During this past off-season, former <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/">New Jersey Devils</a> goaltender Scott Wedgewood signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Nashville Predators. This was after the 32-year-old netminder posted a 16-7-5 record, a .899 save percentage, and a 2.85 goals-against average in 32 games with the Dallas Stars in 2023-24. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/former-devils-goalie-has-thrived-with-new-team] Devils Superstar Has Hit New Level This Season [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5671eceb-deb5-4eea-8773-fa21b65d1d30.jpeg] Devils Superstar Has Hit New Level This Season After missing the playoffs during the 2023-24 season, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/">New Jersey Devils</a> certainly bounced back this campaign. The Devils finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 42-33-7 record and secured the third-place spot in the Metropolitan Division. Now, they are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the post-season, with the series kicking off on April 20. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/devils-superstar-has-hit-new-level-this-season]
