According to Corey Masisak of The Athletic on Monday morning, MacKenzie Blackwood of the New Jersey Devils has begun the process of becoming vaccinated. This marks a significant milestone for the New Jersey Devils as this will put the team at the critical 100 percent vaccination rate in addition to allowing Blackwood to play the team’s first Canadian game rather than sitting out.
The team reported that Blackwood received the first dose of his vaccination at the end of last week and that he will have to remain in strict COVID-19 protocols until he is removed from his second dose two weeks. This is the standard operating procedure, and Blackwood had this information going into the season. Blackwood has yet to miss a game due to COVID-19 but has not played in a regular-season game due to a heel injury. It would appear his heel injury is don’t he mend, and his vaccination status likely means New Jersey is getting back their full-time starter. This is a significant development for the Devils who could use the stability in the crease.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
