Friday marked the month mark since the start of the regular season. The Avalanche have only had one homestand that lasted two games, along with four other standalone games at Ball Arena. They’ve played a total of 14. Their usual backup goalie, Scott Wedgewood, has started 12 times, while their starter, Mackenzie Blackwood, finally made his way back into the lineup late last month
Impressively, they’ve come out of this with just one regulation loss and lead the NHL with 21 points.
But going into another weekend back-to-back on the road, the Avs are working to get Blackwood back into a regular routine. The 29-year-old is physically fully healthy after missing all of training camp and preseason.
However, practice time has been scarce, given their busy schedule.
“It’s a matter of getting in practice with the team and getting games to knock some of that rust off,” Blackwood told me on Friday, right before the Avalanche departed for Edmonton. “You have to get the reads and those reps, and then you start rolling off of that. Once you get into a rhythm, it’s just automatic.”
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The Avalanche rarely have full-team practices as it is. Following Tuesday’s big win over Tampa Bay, Colorado held an optional skate on Wednesday and had the day off Thursday. Friday’s skate was their first full team practice skate in more than a week.
That lack of ice time has made it harder for Blackwood to shake off that rust — to get his timing right and back into that regular rhythm.
“We’re an older group so they give you a little bit of extra rest,” he said. “I feel like younger teams, they practice all the time, but we’re kind of like, you know, save it for the game. Which is nice when you’re playing, but it’s tougher to get your reps.”
Blackwood’s only start was on the second leg of a back-to-back last Saturday against the Sharks. The Avalanche lost 3-2 in overtime.
“Going into San Jose, it wasn’t a terrible game by any means. But there were things that maybe I didn’t love about the way I played, and there were things I would like to clean up a little bit,” Blackwood said. “Maybe it’s not super obvious to the eye. But to me, there are some things that I want to clean up, and I’m working on it.”
The coaching staff has been able to rely on Wedgewood because he’s been a solid force. Wedgewood leads the NHL with eight wins, which includes victories against the New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Lightning.
“I got confidence in both of those guys,” head coach Jared Bednar said of his goalies. “We gotta get both to the peak of their game and try to maintain that as long as we possibly can.”
Other Roster Notes
Bednar said Samuel Girard will not travel for the two-game road trip. Girard donned a red non-contact sweater during practice, meaning he’s not yet ready to get into a game. Logan O’Connor, also not on the trip, skated on his own.
Gavin Brindley was a full participant and is expected to draw back into the lineup. He’s missed two games since suffering a concussion last Friday in Vegas. Brindley gives the Avs 12 healthy forwards, but Bednar confirmed the team is contemplating an additional call-up to have an extra body on the road.
