On June 27, 2023, the New Jersey Devils traded their goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood (27), a member of the organization for five years, to the San Jose Sharks. The board of directors of the club based at the Prudential Center felt that the Ontarian was not strong enough, not reliable enough and not consistent enough to allow him to move to the next level.
During the night from Sunday to Monday, Blackwood was established for the first time within the confines of his former employer. While he plays behind a team undergoing reconstruction, much less posh than that of the Devils, he was phenomenal, capturing or diverting the 44 shots sent by the Valais center player Nico Hischier (25 years old, 3 shots), l Appenzell winger Timo Meier (28 years old, 2), Zurich defender Jonas Siegenthaler (27 years old, 2) and their teammates.
Results: 0-1 for the Californians and the first star for Mackenzie Blackwood who obtained the 11th shutout of her career.
“There were a lot of jokes and friendly provocations on the ice,” the hero explained after the meeting to journalist Kristy Flannery. I really like these guys and I experienced so many great things over five years.” Several Devils players came to greet him in the corridors of the rink before he got on the bus.
The duel against the Sharks was also a reunion match for Timo Meier, traded by San Jose to New Jersey on February 26, 2023. A moment that the Swiss international did not celebrate in the expected way. He in fact, quite unintentionally, scored the only goal of the face to face by deflecting a shot from German striker Nico Sturm into the net defended by his goalkeeper Jake Allen in the 17th minute.
NHL. Sunday’s matches.
Chicago – Minnesota 2-1 ap
New Jersey – San Jose 0-1
