Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood isn’t letting postseason emotions affect his game

Not many postseason tournaments in professional sports are more difficult than the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood isn't letting the heightened emotions affect his game

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Apr 17, 2025, 9:05 AM

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Mackenzie Blackwood has been a breath of fresh air for the Colorado Avalanche this season after being acquired in a trade in December. The team had a 15-13 record before trading for Blackwood, and had been suffering from sub-par goaltending efforts leading up to that point.

In 37 games with Colorado this season, Blackwood has posted a .913 save percentage to go with 22 wins, numbers that he hasn’t reached since 2020, his second year in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils. Despite being in his seventh year in the league, Blackwood has never appeared in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. The emotions of a playoff game are much different than a regular season game and the stakes are obviously much higher, but Blackwood isn’t worried about the change in setting.

“You do what you’ve always done, just play hockey. It’s still the same game, just a little bit more stakes and more emotion. For me, I don’t really struggle to stay calm so I think it’ll be easy for me to not get too emotionally high,” Blackwood said at Avalanche practice Wednesday.

Even though he didn’t play in a game, Blackwood had a taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when he was with the Devils in 2023.

“I kind of know what it’s all about … The emotions get up a little bit, the stakes are a little higher, but it’s the same game at the end of the day,” Blackwood said.

Blackwood will have his hands full throughout the first round series against the Dallas Stars, who scored the third-most goals in the entire league in the regular season (275). The Stars have a very deep team with forwards who are always a threat to score, highlighted by former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen.

Blackwood has not been in the net for the Avalanche this season when facing Dallas, as Scott Wedgewood was between the pipes for Colorado in the two games played against the Stars since the goalie trades early in the season.

“They’re just a heavy, physical team,” Blackwood said about the Stars. “Obviously, they can score goals, they got a good, deep team and you have to respect them and their talent.”

Blackwood will also be going up against one of the best goaltenders in the entire league in Jake Oettinger, who posted a .909 save percentage in the regular season and had the third-most wins among goalies with 36. Oettinger is known for raising his level of play in the postseason, highlighted by his 64-save performance in a Game 7 against the Calgary Flames in 2022. The Avalanche will need Blackwood to elevate his game in the same way if they want to win another Stanley Cup.