Miles Wood has more history with Mackenzie Blackwood than any other member of the Colorado Avalanche. They were teammates for part of one season in the AHL and five years in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils.

The Colorado Avalanche, perennial Stanley Cup contenders, are at a pivotal juncture in the 2024-25 NHL season. With the recent acquisition of goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and ongoing speculation about a potential trade for Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones, the Avalanche’s odds of winning the Stanley Cup have improved.

DENVER — Neal Pionk scored 17 seconds into overtime, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Wednesday night. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck started the winning play when he sent the puck to Vladislav Namestnikov, who fed Pionk skating down the right side. Pionk’s slap shot beat Mackenzie Blackwood to end Winnipeg’s two-game skid.

His path from prospect to potential Vezina Trophy candidate was non-linear, and included some dark days. But, beyond some better fortune with his health, one of the biggest realizations in his development was his ability to make flashy saves was not going to make him the consistent goaltender he wanted to be.

Blackwood stopped 23 of 27 shots in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Oilers.

Some of the issues that looked fixed two days ago in a decisive win against the Dallas Stars were again troubling for the Colorado Avalanche in a loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Neal Pionk scored 17 seconds into overtime and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in Denver on Wednesday night.

Blackwood has solidified the Avalanche's crease since being acquired from the Sharks. Can he ride the momentum to a Vezina Trophy win?

Yakov Trenin scored against his former team early in the third period, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Monday.

There is no doubting that the Colorado Avalanche have the talent to win a Stanley Cup, but they still appear to be lacking the hunger.

But Colorado’s NHL team has long had a reputation for being a quiet bunch in the locker room, even when this group reached the top of the mountain in 2022. The 2024-25 edition started the season slow, bogged down by injuries and poor goaltending. It weighed on everyone. A generally quiet room seemed even more so at times.

HC Scott Arniel criticized himself and his players for their lacklustre effort against Utah HC on Monday. The Jets responded well against an excellent Avalanche team. Connor Hellebuyck turned away 25 of the 27 shots he faced, and MacKenzie Blackwood allowed three goals on 25 Jets shots.