The Colorado Avalanche have perhaps the best goaltending situation in all of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff teams. The combination of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood performed exceptionally well this past season. They earned the Jennings award for best save percentage on a team, on their way to a 54-16-8 record.
Wedgewood has received the starts for the first two playoff games, putting up a .960 save percentage and goals-against average of 0.94. He’s saved 48 of 50 total shots in 127:28 of action.
It is clear that the Avalanche have faith that Wedgewood has the ability for an extended stay in the crease, as evidenced by him starting the season and playing the team’s first seven games before giving Trent Miner two starts in their next three.
Blackwood got his first start of the season, on November 1, 2025, after missing the first month or so due to offseason surgery.
There were times early on in Blackwood’s 2025-26 season where it was clear he wasn’t fully healthy. He allowed 10 goals in his first three games, but the Avalanche won six of the first seven in which Blackwood started. He started five games from December 11 through December 31, winning all five. Meanwhile, Wedgewood won all four of his starts in that time.
One of the important things to keep in mind is that teams tend to play well when they have confidence in their goaltender. If they don’t feel confident in the guy guarding the net, they tend to start to play hesitantly, as we saw with Alexandar Georgiev and sometimes Justus Annunen before the additions of their new duo.
I think that Bednar will have to consider starting Blackwood in Game 4, especially if they win Game 3, which takes place in Los Angeles on Thursday. While getting Blackwood into a game after a loss could do some good, you also don’t want to give any sort of indication that you are losing faith in Wedgewood.
I’m not suggesting that will 100% happen, but you can’t pull the plug on a guy, who you basically deemed the starter, after a loss. I feel that would be bad management.
If Wedgewood wins Game 3, you have some wiggle room with your lineup in the crease. If Blackwood comes in and does well, Bednar could choose to give him another go. My gut tells me that the Avs would go back to Wedgewood, though. He’s earned every start that he has been given.
In the 2024-25 postseason, Blackwood got his first taste of the postseason. He started seven games, putting up a 3-4 record and an .892 save percentage while also having a goals-against average of 2.71.
Wedgewood has seen postseason action in six games over three seasons, including this year. However, he’s only ever started in a postseason game this year. It’s remarkable how well Wedgewood has done in such limited time in the postseason. Hopefully, when Blackwood gets his shot, he’ll follow up with more solid performances.
The Avalanche will go as far as their goaltending will take them. It’s helped them survive two gritty games against the Kings this postseason. Hopefully, offense will pick up in the next couple of games, leading to dominant wins that can give their goalie a break.
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