Avs Game 54 Grades: Familiar win

Nicholas Aube-Kubel – C

Ugly first period and then turned it around with some really good shifts, particularly in the second period with some hard work down low that led to the second Avs goal. Got lucky the weird goal/non-goal in the third got called off because he got walked pretty badly.

Andre Burakovsky – B+

I really didn’t like him in the first period. He was hesitating with the puck along the wall and his decision-making was too slow. In the third, he turned it on, and just decided to start wiring it. Funny how goals come in waves, and a shot can hit a defenseman and just go in perfectly for him now.

J.T. Compher – C+

Got stuck out there on the first Islanders goal after the penalty kill got things done for his minus, but that line was pretty neutral all game long. Had a nice chance late but flubbed the hard rebound wide on an empty net.

Samuel Girard – C-

Did not like his game again, and got stuck out there a lot in the second period, including on the two goals against. Really struggled when paired with anyone other than Makar, and even they got stuck on a tough shift together.

Darren Helm – B

Great screen after a really great shift in the offensive zone for his line on the Toews goal. Was only out there for one shot on net against.

Erik Johnson – C-

Okay, empty-net goal aside, did not like his game again. Seemed to either lose the puck or just overskate it prior to the Islanders’ third goal. He and Murray were playing some hot potato behind the net at one point in the first period that resulted in him turning it over.

Jack Johnson – 1000

Loved his first, kind of faded a bit after that, but it doesn’t matter. 1000 games is an insane accomplishment for anyone, so tons of credit to him.

Tyson Jost – C

A very Jostian game. Low event, not much happening at really either end and zero shots on goal.

Nazem Kadri – B

Did not like his game for most of the night, and then he turned into a monster in the third period, drawing a penalty, and picking up two primary assists. The assist to Burakovsky was beautiful with his move around the defender to set it up.

Darcy Kuemper – C-

Struggled tracking the puck all night long, and got bailed out pretty hard by whatever the heck happened in the third period with that weird goal line play. Anders Lee must have felt bad and didn’t want to put it behind Kuemper.

Gabriel Landeskog – B-

Did not really love his game most of the evening, but when the Avs need a goal, it sure seems to be 92 coming up with them at the most important times. The penalty in the first, I know he didn’t like it, but you get your stick parallel right in front of the ref, and it leads to the defender double-clutching, they’re going to call it most of the time.

Kurtis MacDermid – INC

2 minutes. And he spent his entire shift trying to start a fight with Russ Johnston in the Avs end, and it was his only shift of the first period. If you don’t trust him, don’t play him.

Nathan MacKinnon – B

Came out like a maniac in the first period, with seven shot attempts in the first 20 minutes and a beautiful goal. Then, kind of struggled in the second, particularly in his own end, before turning it back on in the third period. I thought he was going to score four goals after the way he looked early in the game.

Cale Makar – B

In the offensive zone, the Toews/Makar combo was dynamic, pinning the Islanders in deep a ton and creating extended offensive zone time for the Avs a lot. That’s what led to him picking up a couple of secondary assists. In the defensive zone, maybe some more issues, and had an ugly turnover in the third where the Islanders somehow missed a pretty empty net.

Ryan Murray – C+

I feel like I comment on this every game, but boy is he up in the play a lot for a guy who generates next to no offense himself. His play of the game was sitting on Anders Lee’s arm so that he couldn’t push the puck properly into the net in the third.

Alex Newhook – B+

Put him with skilled players, and he’ll excel. He’s a weapon on the third line but continues to show he can stick in the top six if need be. He’s come a long way this season and is generating a lot more at even strength of late. Seven shot attempts is a lot for him.

Logan O’Connor – C

Had a good chance in the third period on an odd-man rush but put it right into the goalie’s breadbasket. That’s the story of his game right now. Fine other than that, although he seemed to hesitate big time on the Islanders first goal, not realizing Landy was out of the box to help out.

Mikko Rantanen – B-

Defensively, not the best, but he had some highlight reel rushes up the ice that didn’t produce any goals in both the first and second periods. Missed the net a lot on the powerplay.

Devon Toews – A

I think Islanders fans, at this point, know they got screwed in that trade, but Toews made sure to show them up close. Beautiful pinch and read on his goal, and two more assists to go with it. A casual three-point game against the team that traded you away has to feel good.