Mackenzie Blackwood has been the best Canadian goalie in the NHL this season, and the San Jose Sharks netminder should be the starter for Team Canada at the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off.
Mackenzie Blackwood has been the best Canadian goalie in the NHL this season, and the San Jose Sharks netminder should be the starter for Team Canada at the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off.
Mackenzie Blackwood has been the best Canadian goalie in the NHL this season, and the San Jose Sharks netminder should be the starter for Team Canada at the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off.
Blackwood dealt with durability issues during his time with the New Jersey Devils, but since arriving in San Jose, the netminder has been rock solid and healthy. The defense in front of him isn't great, yet Blackwood has a .911 save percentage this season. He's routinely bailed out missed assignments with incredible cross-crease saves nearly every game.
Last Saturday, he stopped Sidney Crosby from scoring his 600th career goal, which would've been an overtime-winning goal. He also made another save sliding to his blocker side during the game to keep it tied at three late in the third period.
Blackwood told reporters that he isn't thinking about representing his nation and trying to stay in the moment.
"Everybody writes stuff all the time, and if you read everything, you will drive yourself nuts. I try not to look into stuff too much and just take it in stride," Blackwood said. "It would be cool to play in that, but you don't think about it too much."
According to NHL EDGE, the league average for save percentage is .901, ten points lower than Blackwood's season percentage. The netminder ranks in the 90th percentile for high-danger save percentage at .860, with a league average of .808.
An argument could be made that the quality of competition during the tournament will be higher. While that is true, the defense in front of him will significantly improve. Since joining the Sharks, San Jose has given up some of the most high-quality chances against, and Blackwood's athleticism, size, and vision have made him highly successful.
Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson is another strong candidate for the starter position for Canada. He has eight wins in nine games and a .913 save percentage. The edge should still go to Blackwood as the Capitals have a significantly better defense in front of their goalies than the Sharks do, yet Blackwood nearly matches Thompson in save percentage.
Thompson also has an .816 high danger save percentage, far less than Blackwood's .860.
Rosters for the Four Nations Face-Off are due on Dec. 2 but will be announced on Dec. 4. Blackwood has been in a good audition to make the roster so far, and the next two weeks can push him not only onto the roster but make him the No. 1 goalie for Team Canada.
Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
Macklin Celebrini's Epic First Career Overtime Goal Lifts Sharks Past Red Wings 5-4
Sharks' Jake Walman Facing Former Team For The First Time Since Trade
'Feels Like A Million Dollars, Maybe More': Yaroslav Askarov Feeling Good About First Sharks Recall
Sharks Recall Yaroslav Askarov For The First Time
- undefined