Both Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood were disappointed they didn’t make Team Canada.

Was each man more disappointed for himself — or for his goaltending partner? That’s not as clear.

And that’s what makes the relationship so special.

“He probably deserved it,” Blackwood said of Wedgewood. “So it sucks for him.”

“I’m a little gutted for him,” Wedgewood said of Blackwood. “I look at him, his skillset, the way he plays the game, and who he is. I don’t know how you score on him on a daily basis. … He’s kind of got everything that guys want.”

Both deserve to be there. No Canadian goaltender has a higher save percentage this season than Blackwood’s .924 or a lower goals-against average. He’s lost only two games in 16 appearances with the Avalanche this season.

Then there’s Wedgewood, whose strong play to start the season threw him into consideration for Team Canada. He’s tied with Sergei Bobrovsky for the league lead in wins and has gaudy numbers himself, sitting just behind Blackwood with a .919 save percentage.

Just minutes after not being named to the team, you could see the disappointment on Blackwood’s face. While he said he hasn’t communicated with Team Canada reps, it’s likely he’s very much on their radar if any of the three goalies chosen can’t make it to Milan.

Wedgewood, who had 24 hours to process the situation, noted his “initial disappointment” with not getting the call.

“There’s no doubt about it, you wanted to make it. And if it wasn’t me, then obviously (Blackwood), for sure,” Wedgewood said. “I was kind of hoping my mentality as a third might pull some weight if they needed a third goalie, as a shot guy and a room guy, things like that. Anything to give my name more credit for the team, I would do.”

The goaltenders have a very special relationship. They spent time together in New Jersey before both found their way to Colorado in a span of 10 days last December. Before and after practices, morning skates and games, you can hear them joking around and giving each other the business. They’ve each found a way to push each other while maintaining that competitive nature. The reality is, they both want to play.

Now, barring becoming an injury replacement for Team Canada, the focus for each is 100% on helping the Avalanche win a Stanley Cup.

“It’s no ill will to anyone making those decisions. It’s just nobody wants to lose anything in life, let alone the competitive nature that we all have,” Wedgewood said. “It would have been unbelievable, like I said. You go from not making it to doing everything we can to win the major season prize.”

For Wedgewood, there is a slight consolation prize in not going to Milan. His wife is expecting their second child any day now. When the NHL takes a break for multiple weeks in February, he’ll get time with his kids he otherwise would not have gotten.

“Unbelievable fail-safe,” Wedgewood said. “I’ll have a lot of time with my daughter. That’s once in a lifetime, but this is also going to be uncharted territory, two straight weeks with both of them, let alone the new one. … This doesn’t feel like a consolation prize. I’m winning both sets, so it’s going to be a cool little break either way.”

What I’m hearing

• For the most part, the Avalanche have had some good luck when it comes to health this season. That being said, there’s still no clarity on when Logan O’Connor will return. On Altitude Sports Radio, Jared Bednar said “it’s not going well” with O’Connor’s attempts to return to the lineup and that the forward is starting to get a little frustrated. There’s still no clear timeline on when he will return.
• Bednar confirmed both Gavin Brindley and Joel Kiviranta are day-to-day with injuries, but neither is significant. Each of them will travel with the team on this upcoming road trip. The Avalanche may call up a forward just in case neither can play.

What I’m seeing

• The experiment with Josh Manson on the left side has gone so well that Bednar would have no issues keeping him there the rest of the season. “I got no problem with it at all,” Bednar said. “I think he’s playing great over there.” That also could adjust Colorado’s trade deadline plans as well.
• Doug Armstrong can blame St. Louis’ play in front of Jordan Binnington for his netminder’s poor play all he wants, but that argument loses some merit when Joel Hofer, the backup for the Blues, has decent numbers.

What I’m thinking

• I get that Team USA is not trying to build an All-Star team but rather a complete team. But if the rumors are true and they aren’t taking Jason Robertson to the Olympics, then maybe they’re overthinking this whole process.
• This might be the toughest road trip of the season for the Avalanche. Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay in a four-day span is a good test.