Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils Must Ride Mackenzie Blackwood Right Now

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 19: (L-R) Andy Greene #6, Mackenzie Blackwood #29 and Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils celebrate a 1-0 shut-out against the Vancouver Canucks at the Prudential Center on October 19, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 19: (L-R) Andy Greene #6, Mackenzie Blackwood #29 and Travis Zajac #19 of the New Jersey Devils celebrate a 1-0 shut-out against the Vancouver Canucks at the Prudential Center on October 19, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils won their first games of the season this past week with Mackenzie Blackwood in net. This team needs to ride the hot hand while they are winning.

Mackenzie Blackwood had a rough start to his season when he was forced to come in to the first game of the season for an injured Cory Schneider. He eventually gave up the rest of the New Jersey Devils four-goal lead, then immediately got blitzed the next night for seven goals against the Buffalo Sabres. The season started about as bad as it could have.

The Devils spent three of the next four games with Schneider in net, two of which the Devils were shutout. It’s clear that “goals for Cory” is still a thing. However, over the past two games, the Devils have been rolling with Blackwood.

The Devils only scored one goal in their past game against the Vancouver Canucks, but they were playing inspired hockey. However, it was not turning into chances. The Canucks outchanced the Devils 61 to 43 in all phases according to Natural Stat Trick. At 5v5, it was even worse, with the Devils posting a 40.35 CF%.

There was one major difference in that game, and it was Blackwood. Even taking away the Canucks multiple power plays, they were still better at making offense. The Canucks even had twice as many 5v5 high-danger chances (eight). Blackwood stopped everything. He shutout the Canucks no matter what they threw at him.

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The New Jersey Devils need to ride Blackwood while he is piping hot. The Devils don’t have to worry about back to backs like they did earlier in this season. They have two games in the next 11 days. The Devils have plenty of time to work with Blackwood.

Then, the back to backs start again, but the Devils could have a clearer picture of what they have in Blackwood by then.

We’re not telling the Devils to make Blackwood the official starter. In fact, quite the contrary. The Devils should never have to make that kind of arrangement, because Blackwood and Schneider will go through ebbs and flows. Right now, Blackwood is ebbing and Schneider is flowing, or something like that. Either way, the stats are bad for both Schneider and Blackwood. They cannot have save percentages under .900 this season. However, Blackwood should be given every chance to succeed. For now.

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