Mackenzie Blackwood Put Forth A Winning Effort In His First NHL Start, Even Though The Devils Did Not

If the game ended right now, this would be the #NJDevils worst Corsi performance of the season. Not having the puck has led to all the penalties too. After several games of playing well or well-ish but getting bad goaltending, the script has been flipped.

— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) December 21, 2018

Full disclosure, if not for a rookie netminder displaying veteran-like composure in keeping a largely lifeless team in the game for the first 40 minutes of game that they probably shouldn't even have had a chance to win in the final 20, I wouldn't have had enough original things to say  to be writing about yet another demoralizing Devils' loss.

The laughable desperate lineup changes that can be best explained by the type of inquisitiveness that could get someone to eat dog food out of morbid curiosity were quickly boycotted. Sami Vatanen and Damon Severson basically gave the middle finger to both their coach and their goaltender by jockeying for the position of RHD while the LHD's responsibility tapped home a goal that was easier to attain than the signing up for a gym membership step of getting in shape...

#DECEMBER20 #NJDvsCBJ 1st period
Foligno
1-0 #CBJ pic.twitter.com/SEU2B1Rqwb

— John Smith (@NJviDs) December 21, 2018

Taylor Hall, as he's become one to do in trying to dig the Devils out of their depressive state, did a little too much in turning an odd man rush for into a scoring opportunity against so quickly that it made Nico Hischier jealous. Then Cam Atkinson, as he's become one to do over the years, killed the Devils, this time with the resulting penalty shot...

.@CamAtkinson13 converts on the penalty shot. pic.twitter.com/tDGepzn9c0

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) December 21, 2018

I suppose a bunch of other shit happened along the way, but - all in all - it was a familiar 'too little, too late' type effort from a Devils' team that made things far too easy on their opponent and waited until the 3rd period to show any sort of urgency offensively. 

What wasn't familiar, however, was Mackenzie Blackwood and the combination of size (I don't know if you've heard, but you can't teach that), positioning, and athleticism he put together in giving his team every opportunity to conjure up some competitiveness. Whether it was stopping Artemi Panarin on the doorstep more times in a three second span than he's been stopped by a Devils' goaltender...well...maybe ever, or getting across the crease in a form and fashion that made Cory Schneider in fast-forward seem slo-mo, Blackwood was a breathe of fresh air to a crease that basically been black mold whenever Keith Kinkaid isn't at the top of his game. 

One game makes not a successful career, of course, but it was encouragingly obvious why he was drafted so high, and (not to name names, but...) that's sadly not something that can currently be said of all members of that same Devils' draft class. Relative to a season of overwhelmingly negativity, a standout effort that - even in defeat - made the goaltending situation seem slightly less doomed is a pretty big positive. For that reason, I'm not sure MacKenzie Blackwood is more deserving of a 'thank you', a 'congratulations', or a 'sorry', because (with the help of a few posts) his 36-save performance was an appreciated accomplishment that went completely to waste...

In his first 20 minutes tonight, Mackenzie Blackwood faced 17 SOG. #NJDvsCBJ pic.twitter.com/4TPHBCfkQA

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 21, 2018

#DECEMBER20 #NJDvsCBJ 2nd period
Blackwood saves ... pic.twitter.com/td4dvTbwfW

— John Smith (@NJviDs) December 21, 2018

Mackenzie Blackwood is keeping the @NJDevils in the game! #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/i1caikNg98

— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) December 21, 2018

#DECEMBER20 #NJDvsCBJ 3rd period
-Replay-
Blackwood stop on Duclair pic.twitter.com/B0ZDuVmLzr

— John Smith (@NJviDs) December 21, 2018

“You can't ask for much more from Mackenzie Blackwood in his first #NHL start.”@CangyManMSG & @KenDaneykoMSG break down the @NJDevils' goalie's outstanding performance tonight in Columbus. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/lerpdsj9Zo

— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) December 21, 2018