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The Colorado Avalanche has been one of the healthiest NHL teams this season, but it’s run into a mini-injury crisis.
Mackenzie Blackwood was placed on injured reserve Friday with a lower-body injury, just the Avs are about to play three of the best teams in the Eastern Conference all away from Ball Arena. A team spokesman said Blackwood will be re-evaluated after this three-game road trip, which begins Saturday against Carolina and finishes Sunday at Florida and Tuesday against Tampa Bay.
Blackwood, who is 13-1-1 with a league-leading 2.07 goals against average and second-best .924 save percentage, played Wednesday night against St. Louis. He made 12 saves in a 6-1 victory and spoke to the media afterwards.
The Avs practiced Thursday, but Blackwood went on the ice briefly and left before the full session convened. Blackwood also missed training camp and the first three weeks of the season after having offseason knee surgery.
Colorado recalled Trent Miner from the Eagles to fill in. Miner made one start and relief appearance while Blackwood was unavailable earlier this year.
Blackwood is the most important Avs player who has missed time this season, but Scott Wedgewood’s outstanding play mitigated the issue. Joel Kiviranta was a late scratch against the Blues with a lower-body injury and Gavin Brindley left the contest with an upper-body issue.
The Avalanche recalled Talyor Makar, and he could play Saturday night against the Hurricanes if both of those forwards cannot go. The younger Makar brother has played three games for the Avs this season and 26 for the Eagles in the AHL in his first full professional season.
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Corey Masisak
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