Avs Game 81 Grades: The real game 82

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – C+

Picks up a nice assist whacking away at the puck on the weird O’Connor goal. His best moment came in the third period with an epic shift, which ended with him taking a Preds player off the puck and hitting Compher for a one-timer.

Andre Burakovsky – D

Great play on the Lehkonen goal, showed some calm with the puck in a tough spot before hitting Manson across the ice. Was hoping that would get him going but he went invisible the rest of the night and didn’t register a shot on net at even strength.

Bowen Byram – C-

Had some good moments offensively and picked up an assist by jumping in down low, but made some big mistakes, notably a poor pinch that led to an odd-man rush in the second and then a rough turnover in the third that led to Kuemper having to freeze the puck. The Preds tied it off the next face-off.

Andrew Cogliano – B

Nice give and go with Helm on the Compher goal, even though he didn’t pick up an assist. Hit Rittich’s knob on a great chance in the third period.

J.T. Compher – B+

Maybe the mustache should hang around for a while, because another good game. Had a lot of good chances, capping it off with the goal in the second. Had some good looks in the third period as well.

Samuel Girard – B-

The Preds didn’t hesitate to hit him any chance he got the puck, but he took the hits to make some plays and that’s what he’s going to have to deal with next week. His on-ice impacts were very good, particularly the Avs expected goals for percentage with him out there. Forsberg turned him around pretty good in OT.

Darren Helm – C+

The penalties, even if they were ticky tacky and ones they may not call in a week, were still there, and quite frankly, the only thing holding him back from a great night. He had a monster shift on the Compher goal.

Erik Johnson – B-

Had some heavy shifts defensively, particularly on the PK at the end of the second period when the Preds were trying to push things physically. His partner wasn’t as good tonight, but he had himself a solid night and looks like he’d fit right in against a team like Dallas or Nashville.

Nazem Kadri – D

The full game still is not there, and hopefully it comes out next week when the playoffs start. Great face-off win on the Makar goal, but the creativity and playmaking ability he showed all year hasn’t quite come back. He had a rush in the second period that just kind of died on his stick, to the point where he didn’t even enter the zone and the entire team had to regroup.

Darcy Kuemper – F

He had a bad night. It happens. Moving on.

Artturi Lehkonen – B+

Just continues to score goals, to the point where he may hit 20 with this burner that he’s on. Ended the night with a very respectable six shots on goal.

Nathan MacKinnon – C+

MacKinnon was the best player on the ice in the first period, and if he had scored a goal, I think he would have really taken over the game. But he didn’t, and the game kind of got away from him a bit, and the clean lost face-off on the game-tying goal stinks.

Cale Makar – B

Was hoping he’d really take off after the goal early, and offensively he had his chances but couldn’t get another one. Defensively, he was the only player who could really contain Forsberg, frustrating him quite a few times in the third period.

Josh Manson – B

A good bounce-back game and one that contained a lot of good, smart reads to kick start some offensive plays. He had a keep in in the third period to setup Cogliano, and another takeaway to set-up Kadri as well.

Valeri Nichushkin – C

A tough luck night for Nuke, who was out there for three goals against and looked visibly frustrated at himself on the tying goal that he didn’t get there to block it.

Logan O’Connor – B

Extra marks for his goal, not only sticking with the puck, but burying it into the net with authority when he could have just tapped it in. I think he’s in danger of starting the playoffs in the press box, but imagine he’s the first guy that comes in if needed.

Mikko Rantanen – D

Looked like a guy who had been off for a bit, and certainly looked to be lacking energy. Took some big hits, and really had one good chance in the third cutting to the middle and missed the net by a mile.

Nico Sturm – B-

Had some good looks to get his first goal with the Avs, one in the slot in the first and another in the second, but can’t seem to bury one.

Devon Toews – C

Had a great first period with some nice reads in the neutral zone, but boy did he get turned around on the Josi goal, which is something you never really see happen.