Blackwood feels normal again, back from injury
The Sharks will be looking to end a nine-game losing streak Saturday when they play the desperate St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center.
Considering the Sharks' overall lack of firepower right now, it won't be easy.
But the Sharks do have their No. 1 goalie back in Mackenzie Blackwood, whose steadying presence should help give his team a chance to remain competitive on a nightly basis.
That was the case Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild as Blackwood's early heroics allowed the Sharks to find their legs after a rocky start.
Blackwood made 14 first-period saves – including 10 on the penalty kill -- as the Sharks managed just one shot against the Wild in the game's opening 20 minutes. Mikael Granlund then tied the game for the Sharks in the second period, but a Matt Boldy goal early in the third period proved to be the winner as the Wild handed San Jose a 3-1 loss.
The Sharks had 17 shots in the third period but could not beat Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson a second time. Blackwood finished with 29 saves as the Sharks fell to 2-16-3 since a two-week break in midFebruary.
“Anytime (Blackwood's) in the net, he's a guy who gives us a chance to win every night,” Sharks winger Justin Bailey said. “After a first period like that, where they have two power plays, he's able to keep it at one and that gives us confidence going into the next period that we can claw our way back into it.
“Our response in the second and third periods was much better.”
Blackwood missed 11 games from Feb. 29 to March 19 after he suffered a groin injury in a Feb. 27 game against the New Jersey Devils.
Blackwood returned for the Sharks' game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 21 but allowed four goals on 21 shots.