San Jose Sharks goalie exits game vs. New Jersey Devils

SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood exited Tuesday’s game with the New Jersey Devils late in the first period and was later ruled out from returning.

The Sharks did not provide an official reason why Blackwood left the game, but it appeared the goalie was injured making a save on Devils center Jack Hughes.

Blackwood stopped on a Hughes shot with 2:28 left in the first period, got up, and then skated toward the Sharks bench during a television timeout. After he reached the bench, Blackwood walked toward the Sharks dressing room and threw his stick down.

Blackwood was credited with 13 saves in the first period before he left the game. Kaapo Kahkonen came off the bench to replace Blackwood for the final 2:26 of the first period but did not have to make a save.

The Sharks took a 1-0 lead shortly after Blackwood left the game, as Nico Sturm scored his fourth of the season off an assist from Alexander Barabanov at the 18:17 mark of the first.

Kahkonen started the second period as Blackwood did not come out of the Sharks’ dressing room.

Blackwood came out of the game after appearing to be injured on this play pic.twitter.com/7bj3fYyohP

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) February 28, 2024

On its third shot of the period, New Jersey tied the game, as a bad change by the Sharks led to a Devils 2 on 1. Jesper Bratt then took a pass from former Sharks winger Timo Meier and scored his 22nd of the season at the 3:29 mark.

Just 37 seconds later, Jack Hughes took advantage of a Sharks turnover and beat Kahkonen for his 19th goal of the season as the Devils took a 2-1 lead.

Blackwood was playing in his 35th game of the season Tuesday as he had remained mostly healthy for the first four months of the season.

Beset by injuries the last two years, Blackwood hadn’t played in this many games in one season since 2020-2021, when he went 14-17-4 for the Devils in a non-playoff year for the organization.

Please check back for updates to this developing story.