MacKenzie Blackwood bails out Avalanche D in Frozen Frenzy win over Stars

It didn’t take long for MacKenzie Blackwood to tape Jared Bednar’s mouth shut.

After the Avalanche coach discreetly tossed Blackwood under the bus following Saturday night’s loss to the Maple Leafs, the Colorado goalie came back with a brilliant performance on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars.

Blackwood was the difference in the Avalanche’s 3-2 win at the American Airlines Center as part of the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy event. He cleaned up his defense’s mess, particularly an egregious giveaway by Sam Malinski in the second period.

Malinski’s giveaway was just one of several questionable plays by the Colorado defense. But it was Blackwood who made that crucial save to keep the Avalanche in the lead.

That was precisely the save that Bednar talked about last weekend. Blackwood delivered and helped the Avalanche preserve a much-needed win against a heated divisional rival.

Blackwood ended the night with 24 saves and the game’s third star.

The focus will now shift to Wednesday night when the Avs take on the Stars at Ball Arena in the second leg of the two teams’ home-and-home set.

Nathan MacKinnon drops the gloves again

Nathan MacKinnon made as much noise for his offensive play as he did for his pugilistic abilities. The Avalanche superstar dropped the gloves yet again, this time squaring off against Roope Hintz.

MacKinnon just doesn’t learn. While being a tough customer is certainly appreciated, the bottom line is that he shouldn’t be putting himself in harm’s way like that.

The aftermath of the bout with Hintz left MacKinnon with a bloody nose, one that required significant repair while he served the major penalty for fighting and then during the second intermission.

Yes, MacKinnon should be fine, even if his nose is worse for wear. But you have to think that it might be high time the Nate Dogg toned down the violence just a tad.

Necas going off the rails in Dallas

Martin Necas had the honor of burying the Stars on Wednesday night, notching two goals. He scored a beauty of a goal courtesy of MacKinnon.

The goal gave Colorado a 2-1 lead early in the second period.

Then, Necas struck again, this time notching a much-needed power play goal to open up a two-goal lead.

The tally came on the tail end of a 5-on-3 power play. The goal proved to be the game-winner and helped get the monkey off the back of Colorado’s power play.

All told, Necas was the player of the game, getting the nod for the match’s first star.

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