The New Jersey Devils let a lot of its main players sit on Thursday’s regular-season finale. That left Mackenzie Blackwood to start in net. It was likely his last performance for the only NHL he knows.
The New Jersey Devils played their final regular season game on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. There was a lot on the line. Jack Hughes could have become the first 100-point player in New Jersey Devils history. The Devils were trying to break some other team-centric records as well. They could secure the biggest turnaround in NHL history, adding 49 points from the previous year’s standings. They could also break the record for franchise wins with 52.
It wasn’t like the Devils put everything out there to go after these records. Ryan Graves, Ondrej Palat, John Marino, and Vitek Vanecek all sat for a maintenance day. That left Mackenzie Blackwood to take the net.
The Devils started Blackwood on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. After a rough start, he settled in and played well. The Devils lost, but it was hardly Blackwood’s fault. Lindy Ruff went with Blackwood one last time before the playoffs starts. The way it turned out, it’s likely the last time we see Blackwood at all.
Mackenzie Blackwood likely got pulled from his last game with the New Jersey Devils.
He just wasn’t good on Thursday night. He faced 11 shots, and he allowed four goals. Sure, two of those goals “weren’t his fault,” but that doesn’t matter. His save percentage for this game was .636. For a guy trying to prove he deserves to be on a playoff roster, this was not the performance anyone wanted.
And it’s because of this performance that we likely will never see Blackwood in a Devils uniform again. Akira Schmid came in to relieve Blackwood, and he didn’t allow another goal. The Devils eventually tied the game and forced overtime, where
Schmid deserves the nod as the playoffs approach. He’s proven himself this season. There has to be a reason they called him up despite the Utica Comets still being steeped in a playoff race. Schmid could go back this weekend, but the Devils will likely make it a priority to keep him as the backup to Vitek Vanecek.
Blackwood is in the last year of his contract. He’s a restricted free agent, but it’s more than likely the Devils are going to let him hit free agency. This is probably the last time Blackwood is wearing a Devils jersey. After a tumultuous tenure, his time with the Devils ends with a dud.