The Colorado Avalanche's unbeaten run ended Saturday night in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Mackenzie Blackwood may be the next goalie asked to steady it. Colorado lost 5-1 to the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, its first loss of the postseason, after Scott Wedgewood was pulled early in the second period.
Wedgewood allowed three goals on 12 shots in 24:23 before Blackwood took over and stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced over 32:27. The change did not alter the result, but it did put a spotlight on Colorado's next move in net before Game 4.
After the game, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said the team would have to decide who starts next. He said Blackwood was good and that the staff would talk it over before making a call. Bednar also said he thought Wedgewood had been playing hard, but that he may have looked too aggressive on a couple of the goals against. On one, Bednar said the goaltender was out too far, and on another he felt the play unfolded after the penalty kill had begun to get aggressive coming across and the puck found the back of the net.
Blackwood's appearance carried extra weight because he had last played in Colorado's 3-1 win against the Calgary Flames on April 14. Saturday was the first time he entered a playoff game for the Avalanche, and it came after Wedgewood had started every game for Colorado this postseason. Wedgewood had gone 31-6-6 in the regular season and led the NHL with a 2.02 goals-against average and a.921 save percentage, a run that made him one of the club's most important surprises.
The Avalanche still own the best record in the NHL from the regular season, but the series has now shifted with the Wild taking a game on home ice and forcing Colorado to re-examine its crease. Blackwood said a goalie never really knows when he might be called upon, only that the job is to stay ready and do the best he can for the team. That next call could come quickly, with Game 4 looming and a decision in goal now part of the story.
