Colorado Avalanche place Mackenzie Blackwood on IR
It's been a tough week for Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who is having an unreal season in 2025-26. Blackwood was first snubbed off of Team Canada's Olympic team, and left off for goaltenders he has better numbers than, and then it went from bad to worse on the ice, as the Avs have placed Blackwood in injured reserve.
The 29-year-old netminder is out due to a lower-body injury and Blackwood will be re-evaluated after the current Avalanche road trip. The team has called up Trent Miner in the meantime, however, expect to see the scorching hot Scott Wedgewood get most of the work while Blackwood is on the shelve.
Blackwood last dressed during the new year's even tilt against the St. Louis Blues, stopping 12 of 13 shots in a 6-1 blowout. At this time, it's hard to pin point exactly when/or where Blackwood was injured, but it's obviously serious enough to land on the IR.
We have recalled Taylor Makar and Trent Miner from the Colorado Eagles.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 2, 2026
Mackenzie Blackwood has been placed on injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/IN5VcNOiaf
The Avalanche have been historically good this season, and Blackwood's a big reason why. He's posted a 13-1-1 record in 16 games this year, along with an impressive .924 save percentage. The veteran netminder is in his second season with the Avs, and so far has gone 35-13-4 with a 2.25 goals against average. No doubt, it's a big loss for the Avs and they'll have to wait and see if Wedgewood can keep up his strong play.
Jordan Binnington hasn’t even been the best goalie on the Blues. The fact that he’s being rewarded to represent team Canada over Mackenzie Blackwood, who’s been the best Canadian goaltender in the NHL, is an absolute joke.
— William Bailey (@Will_i_amBailey) December 31, 2025
Through 39 games this season, Colorado is 30-2-7, ten points up on the Dallas Stars in the Central division, and they're showing no signs of slowing down. While their goaltenders are locked in for the season, don't be surprised to see the Avs make a couple of big moves ahead of the trade deadline, as Nathan MacKinnon and company look for another Stanley Cup.
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
