Mackenzie Blackwood of Thunder Bay, Ontario recorded his third career shutout on Saturday. The New Jersey Devils netminder made 25 saves as the Devils blanked the Vancouver Canucks 1-0 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, NJ.
Blackwood made six saves in the first period, 14 saves in the second period and five saves in the third period. Defenseman Alexander Edler led the Canucks with four shots on goal.
The Devils got their only goal of the hockey game from the 2019 National Hockey League first overall pick, Jack Hughes. The Devils rookie who scored his first career goal, scored from Taylor Hall of Calgary, Alberta and Sami Vantanen. In an interesting note, Hall was also a first overall draft pick as he was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010.
In 2019-20, Blackwood has a record of two wins, one regulation loss and two losses in extra time. He has a goals against average of 3.15 and a save percentage of .886. Blackwood, who is becoming the number one goaltender in New Jersey and taking the reins from Cory Schneider, recorded a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers on October 17 in his only other win this season.
Blackwood had two shutouts during the 2018-19 NHL regular season. On December 29, 2018, Blackwood made 37 saves in a 2-0 Devils win over the Carolina Hurricanes and two nights later on December 31, 2019, Blackwood made 25 saves in a 4-0 Devils win over the Vancouver Canucks.
The Devils improved to a record of two wins, four regulation losses and two losses in extra time for six points. The Canucks fell to a record of four wins and three losses for eight points, but were able to bounce back with a tight 3-2 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday.
