It didn’t take goalie Mackenzie Blackwood long to establish himself as the Colorado Avalanche’s starter for the present and future after signing a five-year $26.25 million contract extension.

Although four games is a small sample size, Blackwood has dazzled with a 3-1-0 record, .931 SV% and 2.03 GAA with the Avalanche. Colorado outscored those opponents 15-9 on aggregate, indicating that the players are performing more confidently with the 28-year-old reliably defending the crease.