Devils’ Blackwood out 3-6 weeks with MCL sprain, Palat out 8-10 weeks after surgery

New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood watches the puck during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in Elmont, N.Y. (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

The New Jersey Devils are expected to be without starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood for three-to-six weeks due to an MCL sprain.

Head coach Lindy Ruff also said Tuesday that forward Ondrej Palat will miss eight-to-10 weeks after undergoing groin surgery last week.

Blackwood left Thursday’s 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period after making a save and falling in the crease.

The 25-year-old holds a 4-2-0 record with a 2.79 goals-against average and .880 save percentage in seven games this season.

Palat has three goals in six games this season. The 31-year-old won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021 and signed a five-year, $30 million contract to join the Devils this summer.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.