Blackwood Tests Negative, Leaning Toward Vaccination | FEATURE

Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood rejoined his teammates for practice on Sunday afternoon after testing negative for COVID-19, and said he is leaning towards getting the vaccine.
"I'm probably going to be getting the shot in the next couple of weeks," said Blackwood, who is the only unvaccinated Devils player. "It's nice that (current test) came back negative and I'm back with the team, and business as usual."
Blackwood, 24, had been isolated for the past three days since two of his COVID-19 test results came back inconclusive. Although he said the isolation "sucked," he noted that it didn't have any bearing on his decision to get the vaccine.
"That has absolutely nothing to do with that choice," he said. "I talked with my family and friends. Don't think this (COVID scare) changed my mind. It's a separate event."

Blackwood had been preparing to play in the Devils final preseason game last Thursday against the New York Islanders. However, he was pulled out of the lineup before game time due to the first inconclusive test (the game was eventually canceled due to a power outage in the building).
"I was getting ready for the game. I was told my test came back inconclusive and I just went home and waited to see what happened," said Blackwood, who previously contracted COVID in January. "I felt normal so I figured nothing was going on. Last time was a little different."
Blackwood is still recovering from off-season heel surgery. He's been dealing with a lack of strength and mobility in the heel, as well as some discomfort.
"It's not perfect. It's not awesome," Blackwood said of his heel. "I'm battling through it a little bit. I'm trying to get my strength, and pain down to a minimum. It's close. I don't know for sure. I'm definitely working away at it and trying to get it ready as quick as I can, hopefully for the regular season."
Blackwood played in two preseason games, logging one period Oct. 2 against the Islanders in Bridgeport and two periods Oct. 4 against Washington. He was scheduled to play a full game last Thursday before being forced to isolate. In absence of a full game, Blackwood will try to his best to substitute with practice.
"Treating practice like a game, bearing down out there," he said. "It would have been nice to play. There were two circumstances that affected that for me. I don't think it's the end of the world. Just getting my ankle back healthy, getting back to feeling 100 precent."