- Nathan MacKinnon will play Game 4 after blocking a shot off his knee in Game 3
- Mackenzie Blackwood gets his first WCF start, replacing Scott Wedgewood in net
- Read below for what Jared Bednar said about the goalie switch ahead of Game 4 in Vegas
The Avs got both answers they needed.
Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Tuesday that Nathan MacKinnon will play Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights and that Mackenzie Blackwood will start in net, per Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette. Colorado trails the Western Conference Final 3-0 and faces elimination at T-Mobile Arena.
A Shea Theodore shot caught MacKinnon’s knee in Game 3 and kept him off Tuesday’s morning skate. Bednar said the 30-year-old feels better and will play in all situations.
The bigger lineup change comes between the pipes. Wedgewood is 0-3 in this series with a 3.16 GAA and .877 save percentage. Blackwood, 29, hasn’t played since getting pulled in Game 5 against Minnesota after surrendering three first-period goals on 13 shots.
Bednar pushed back on the idea that this is a desperation move:
“We have nothing to lose and this series is the first time he’s entering it, and it’s not like we’re putting the weight of the series on Mackenzie. I think that Mackenzie is the type of guy and goalie that plays better when he’s loose and confident and he’s been doing the work to make sure he’s ready and prepared.”
Cale Makar said the room is behind the call:
“We have the utmost confidence. The way they handled the entire year together and early on in these playoffs too. For us regardless of who is in, they’re going to do an amazing job. I have the utmost faith in (Blackwood) and he’s a gamer.”
On Monday the coach called the Avs about as low as they can get after the Game 3 collapse, when Vegas erased a three-goal deficit to push Colorado to the brink.
Wedgewood owns a 2.47 GAA and .904 save percentage in 11 playoff starts. Blackwood went 23-10-2 with a .904 SV% and three shutouts in the regular season, when Colorado won both the Presidents’ Trophy and the Jennings Trophy.
MacKinnon leads the Avs with seven goals and 15 points in 12 playoff games. Forward Valeri Nichushkin is questionable, per Bednar.
Puck drops at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
