Renck: Mackenzie Blackwood, Scott Wedgewood make Avs’ Stanley Cup goals possible again

Mackenzie Blackwood smiled and revealed what he is asking Santa Claus for Christmas.

“I can’t wait until I get the permanents back in,” said Blackwood as he flashed a goofy grin. “So hopefully in a couple of weeks, you will see me with a pearly white smile.”

Two weeks ago, the Avs were toothless. It’s OK to admit it. They started this season with four straight losses and spent the past few months scrambling as an unserious contender because their play in goal stunk. Their record and statistics left them with no choice. They needed significant upgrades between the pipes to inspire confidence between their ears.

So they acquired Scott Wedgewood, Mackenzie Blackwood and Wild Bill Hickok from Deadwood.

Watching Blackwood, talking to Wedgwood, listening to coach Jared Bednar, there was only one conclusion to draw Thursday: Hope has returned.

The Avs finally have a safety net. They shipped out Alexander Georgiev and Justus Annunen, sacrificing a prospect and draft picks, to stabilize a team that general manager Chris MacFarland admitted was shaken “to the core” by the sluggish start.

In the macro view, the Avs believe Blackwood could realize his intriguing potential, blossoming into a star at 28 years old after dealing with injuries and playing for an awful San Jose club. Wedgewood profiles as an ideal backup, capable of pushing for playing time like Pavel Francouz, while making the starter better and more comfortable.

In the micro view, the Avs needed their goalies to stop sucking. The Avs are not a great defensive team, but all the metrics screamed that they were better than the results. Their defenders were not bad. Their goalies were. It started on opening night when the expected goal numbers calculated that they should have won 5-1. Instead, they lost 8-4.

Entering this week, the Avs ranked in the top 10 in fewest scoring chances and shots allowed per 60, per Natural Stat Trick. And their save percentage ranked second to last. They tried four goalies. The sobering truth was that they could not trust any of them and, whether they admitted it or not, it was affecting the psyche of the guys in the room.

Watching a goalie should not require Dramamine. In pro sports, reliability is often a player’s best ability. Bednar agreed when I broached the topic after the morning skate before facing Utah with Wedgewood starting.

“I think you have seen it already the way we have played in Wedgie’s games. It is kind of obvious. We are just asking our goalies to save the ones they are supposed to make, and mix some other ones in,” Bednar said. “It is managing the game. You watch the New Jersey and Pittsburgh games. Every time they got the puck to our net, if it hit his glove he smothered it. If it hit his chest he covered it. He slowed things down. That’s the type of game management from Blackwood and Wedgewood that we need. It allows us to take a breath.”

The Avs are primed to go on a run. It is that simple. And it was that difficult without help. Management sent a message with these transactions that they believe in this group.

They raised the trophy in 2022 with Darcy Kuemper, who will never be mistaken for Patrick Roy. They don’t need a gymnast standing on his head. In baseball parlance, they need a masked man to make the routine plays.

“I think when management makes moves to make the team better in their view, it puts pressure on us,” right winger Mikko Rantanen said. “They see something in our team. Now, it is up to us to execute and play well.”

Forget the stats. They look different with Wedgewood based on the optics. He is capable, dependable and personable. Blackwood, who fills the net at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds and should make his debut Saturday, knows this. They were teammates in New Jersey five years ago. This means they should be able to accelerate their assimilation.

“It definitely helps, a big benefit. It lets you be yourself. This guy knows me. You don’t have to put on a face,” Wedgewood said. “This team has a chance to be special.”

This looks like a great decision. Ship out guys who blew more saves than the Rockies bullpen for two trusted veterans, and with one boasting a high ceiling when you factor in how well Blackwood played behind one of the NHL’s worst defensive teams. But his .902 save percentage with San Jose comes with a caveat. He has never done it in the playoffs.

Neither of the Brothers Wood has, save for three relief appearances by Wedgewood with Dallas. Not great in terms of soothing nerves. But that is negativity that does not demand or need our attention. Not yet anyway. This is about the Avs getting humbled and angry and doing something about it.

According to TNT, they are the first team to trade their opening-night goalies before Christmas. They got a pair. Now, all they need is Blackwood’s two front teeth.

“He looks like a vampire half the time,” Wedgewood said with a smile. “He’s a really good goalie. It’s definitely a different situation that you don’t see. But hopefully, it shoots some life and confidence into the group. We have a chance to put our foot down and chase a Cup.”

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