Blackwood Ready to Return | INJURY REPORT

Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said on Sunday that goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood would play in two of the final three games of the season if all goes well, starting tomorrow in Ottawa.
"It's been a demanding year on him from the standpoint of what he's had to deal with. For him to be able to get back and play a couple of games with the group is important. For himself and for the team. It's great to see him get back between the pipes," said Ruff.
"He's worked hard. It hasn't been a smooth road to get him there. Just to continue down that path, the number of games we have left, we could say it's not worth trying to battle to get these couple but he's ready to get back in."
Blackwood talked about the struggles he's had, with a heel injury that started with surgery this past offseason.

"It's been a tough year managing my injury but getting back to a place where I feel a lot better now. I'm feeling a lot better than when I was last playing so this will be good for me, good for the team. A good test," Blackwood began.
"It's very frustrating. Did the surgery, came back and thought it would keep getting better but it didn't. Had to shut it down because it wasn't improving. Took some time off and started to make the strides we were looking for. Getting to a place now where it's good enough to go. Showing signs that it'll continue to improve and get to a place where we're totally confident over the summer here and ready to go be 100% next year."
He talked about the injury itself, saying that even when he had returned from surgery he still felt a knife-like stabbing pain in the back of his foot anytime he went into a goalie stance. He added that it will be good to show that he can play not only well in these last two games but pain free most importantly.
"I think it's important to me, to the team and everyone to get in a couple games. There'll be a lot of unknowns from a lot of people had I not been able to go. I'm at a good place with the foot. It's getting better and better all the time and will continue to get better through the offseason. I'm good now."