Avalanche’s MacKinnon to play in Game 4; Blackwood to start
Some things are changing for the Colorado Avalanche for Game 4, and some things are staying the same. Luckily for Colorado, one of those changes is not the loss of Nathan MacKinnon.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar announced on Tuesday ahead of Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights that the superstar center will play in the game after some concerns about an injury in Game 3. Along with that, they will be changing goaltenders, with Mackenzie Blackwood getting the start, while forward Valeri Nichushkin is a game-time decision.
Avs coach Jared Bednar said MacKinnon will play tonight. Blackwood to start. Nichuskin game time decision
MacKinnon remains in the lineup after an injury scare in Game 3 when he blocked a Shea Theodore shot in the second period. MacKinnon didn’t initially return to the bench to start the third period, but then returned to be used in power play and empty net situations. At this point in time, Bednar believes MacKinnon will be used normally, but they’ll see how he feels at game time.
MacKinnon wasn’t going to miss this game, as the Avalanche will need their superstars to begin a comeback after falling 3-0 in the West Final. Then again, knowing MacKinnon’s drive and competitiveness, he probably would have played through an injury if the Avs were up 3-0 in the series as well.
MacKinnon has had an excellent playoff run with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 12 games. This comes after another Hart Trophy-worthy season where he put up a league-leading 53 goals, along with 74 assists and 127 points in 80 games.
Game 4 will be Blackwood’s third start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after getting two after a goaltending change in the second round against the Minnesota Wild. The Avalanche have mostly gone with Scott Wedgewood in the playoffs, but after his struggles through the first three games of the West Final, Colorado needed a change of scenery in the crease.
Blackwood has a 1-0 record in three games in the playoffs so far, with an .870 save percentage and a 0.07 5v5 goals saved above expected (via Evolving Hockey). This came after a solid regular season where he had a 23-10-2 record, a .904 SV% and a 13.49 5v5 GSAx in 39 games.
Nichushkin also sustained an injury in Game 3, as he was absent for the final 22 minutes of the game. It’s unclear what caused the injury, but for now, his status is up in the air and will be determined closer to game time.
Nichushkin has been underwhelming so far these playoffs with two goals and two assists for four points in 12 playoff games. This comes after a relatively normal regular season where he had 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points in 72 games.
The Avalanche will look to become the fifth team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, starting with a win in Game 4 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. MT.