San Jose Sharks goalie exits game vs. New Jersey Devils
San Jose Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood exited Tuesday’s game with the New Jersey Devils in the first period
SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks lost goalie Mackenzie Blackwood for their game against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday after he left the ice late in the first period.
The Sharks did not provide an official reason why Blackwood had to exit the game, but it appeared the goalie was injured making a save on Devils center Jack Hughes.
After Blackwood made the save with 2:28 left in the first period, he got up and 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 in apparent frustration.
Blackwood made 13 saves in the first period before he was replaced by Kaapo Kahkonen, who came on in relief but did not have to make a save for the final 2:26 of the first period.
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.
Blackwood did not come out of the Sharks dressing room to start the second period when the team announced that he would not return.
Kahkonen allowed two goals on the first four shots he faced in the second.
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, acquired from the Devils last June, was playing in his 35th game for the Sharks on 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.
Kevin Rahl also scored for the Devils at the 13:08 mark the second period as Kahkonen allowed three goals on 16 shots in the middle frame. Meier thought he had a power-play goal 52 seconds earlier, but the play was called back after the Sharks challenged for offside.
Blackwood has a 9-18-3 record in his first season with the Sharks.
Please check back for updates on this developing story.