November 11th 2024.
On a chilly Sunday at the Prudential Center, the San Jose Sharks dominated the New Jersey Devils with a 1-0 victory. The star of the game was none other than Mackenzie Blackwood, who made an impressive 44 saves to shut out his former team. It was a bittersweet moment for Blackwood, who played for the Devils from 2018 to 2023 before joining the Sharks. But he put his emotions aside and focused on the task at hand - starting a four-game road trip with a bang.
Blackwood's incredible performance was evident from the very beginning, as he made 25 saves in the first two periods alone. But it was his brilliance in the third period that truly solidified the win for the Sharks. With 19 saves in the final period, Blackwood not only secured the shutout but also helped kill a crucial penalty to defenseman Mario Ferraro with just over three minutes left in the game. His determination and skill were on full display, and it was no surprise when he was credited with his 11th career shutout.
The Sharks' lone goal came from Nico Sturm, who scored his third of the season in the first period. After a strong forecheck, Sturm backhanded a pass intended for Carl Grundstrom, but it deflected off the skate of former Shark Timo Meier and into the net. The Sharks thought they had a second goal when Fabian Zetterlund chipped the puck into the net, but it was ruled illegal after the on-ice officials reviewed the play.
Blackwood's former teammate, Kaapo Kähkönen, was in net for the Devils last season when Blackwood was injured in their only matchup. But this time, Blackwood was determined to make a statement and show his former team what they were missing. And he did just that, with a record-breaking 44 saves, the most in team history for a 1-0 victory.
Rookie center Will Smith was given another development day on Sunday, his fourth in 16 games this season. The Sharks have been giving Smith and fellow rookie centerman Macklin Celebrini intermittent 'development days' to help them adjust to the fast-paced NHL schedule. It was a tough decision for Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky, but he believed it was necessary for the young players' development. Alexander Wennberg replaced Smith as the third-line center, with Barclay Goodrow and Luke Kunin on the wings.
As for Blackwood's fellow former Devil, Mikael Granlund, he was reunited with his former linemates William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund for Sunday's game. The trio proved to be a formidable force at the end of last season, and the Sharks were hoping they could replicate that success. Eklund had a season-low in ice time in the Sharks' last game, but Warsofsky was confident that the young forward would bounce back and contribute to the team's success.
Unfortunately, the Sharks were without defenseman Jake Walman for the third straight game due to injury. But Warsofsky was not ruling out the possibility of dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen for their next game, which would allow him to get Walman back in the lineup while keeping defenseman Jack Thompson in as well. Both Walman and Thompson have been crucial to the Sharks' success this season, and having them both on the ice would be a huge boost for the team.
After their win against the Devils, the Sharks will continue their road trip with games against the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers. They have struggled on the road this season, with only one win in seven games, but they are determined to turn things around and bring home some much-needed victories. With Blackwood leading the way, the Sharks are confident they can make a statement and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with.
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