Blackwood’s stellar performance leads the Sharks to victory, marking his first shutout of the season against his former team.
Mackenzie Blackwood recorded 44 saves for the San Jose Sharks and achieved his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Sunday.
It marked the 11th shutout in Blackwood’s NHL career and his initial one against New Jersey, the team he represented for five seasons before a trade to San Jose on June 27, 2023.
“It’s just one of those nights where it feels easy, I don’t know why sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn’t, but sometimes pucks just seem like they’re coming in slow. I don’t know why, but definitely you could say today was one of those days I was seeing the puck well.” : Blackwood said.
Nico Sturm netted the only goal, putting the Sharks (5-9-2) ahead 1-0 at 16:21 in the first period.
After receiving a pass from Carl Grundstrom in the neutral zone, Sturm maneuvered between two Devils players as he moved into the offensive zone and lost control of the puck, but managed to send a backhand from behind the net into the slot that deflected off Timo Meier’s left skate.
“I had a lot of speed, and I tried to one-touch it over the defenseman’s stick and jump by him but couldn’t corral it right away, I knew everybody was going to the net so I was just trying to throw a puck in front that maybe would go back to [Grundstrom], but I obviously got a lucky bounce.” : Sturm said.
“It was a tough one, in the slot. Unlucky but we had plenty of time to get it back,” Meier said.
Jake Allen recorded 26 saves for the Devils (10-6-2), who had triumphed in three consecutive games. New Jersey triumphed over the New York Islanders 4-3 in overtime at UBS Arena on Saturday. New Jersey begins a three-game road trip with consecutive contests against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday and Thursday.
Blackwood, making his initial start in New Jersey following the trade, recorded 10 saves in the first period. His finest moment occurred against Jesper Bratt on a wraparound at the right post at 10:42. Blackwood recorded 15 saves in the second, thwarting Justin Dowling from the slot when his shot struck Blackwood’s right pad and bounced off the left post at 10:56.
The Sharks seemed to gain a 2-0 advantage at 12:45 of the second period when Fabian Zetterlund slid a puck past the goal line at the right post. Following a short conversation among the officials, it was concluded that Zetterlund hindered Allen by pushing his pad into the net.
Blackwood recorded 19 saves in the third period, with seven coming during a Devils power play following Mario Ferraro’s hooking penalty at 3:32 left. Blackwood’s 44 saves ranked as the second highest by a Sharks goalie during a shutout, trailing only Troy Grosenick’s 45 saves on November 16, 2014.
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