Avs Game 4 Grades: That's a wrap

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – C

I didn’t like his game the majority of the evening, but then in the third period, he had a legendary shift where he protected the puck along the boards and kept control for around a 40-second shift. It’s just too inconsistent with him.

Andre Burakovsky – A

He got on the scoreboard in the most Burky way ever with a shot so perfect that no one knew it went in (and out) of the net. That play also helped him get a promotion, as the second line we saw most of the year got reunited in the third period for the game-winner. A three-point night.

Bowen Byram – B+

Took another penalty, but quite frankly, it was a penalty that you take any day of the week because it was a great chance. Had some really strong defensive plays, including a one-on-one play against Forsberg in the third. Best shot share numbers on the team.

J.T. Compher – B

He is not generating much offense for himself, as another game with zero shots on goal. However, two primary assists and the pass to Makar was perfectly sauced over the defender’s stick. Lost the face-off on the first goal.

Pavel Francouz – B-

None of the goals were really his fault, and he made some big saves in the second period before Trenin scored his second as the Avs kind of just fell asleep. Did just enough for the Avs to pull this one out. I also think his ability to play the puck helped a good bit tonight because the Avs weren’t passing great for most of the game.

Samuel Girard – D

He had a good series, but in game four, that pairing was a mess, and Girard had a really tough time himself. Had to block a shot in the third period with his chest after a ghastly turnover to Johansen behind his net. Other issues beyond that and hopefully that pair got it out of their system.

Darren Helm – B

Just a really consistent series overall with strong forecheck and great work on the penalty kill. Other than maybe some offense, you can’t ask for more.

Erik Johnson – B+

I was a little bummed that EJ wasn’t getting a shot off on the Toews goal, but then he hit Toews coming late and it all made sense. The third pair actually got some minutes late in the game over the second pair just because they were having a better night.

Nazem Kadri – D

Not a good showing, so much so that he got demoted to the third line to start the third period because he was not doing a whole lot. Avs were able to get by with some of their big guys not having the best series, but they’ll need more in the next round.

Gabriel Landeskog – C

Looked a lot better once he was back on the big line in the third period, and you wonder what Bednar deploys in round two because the lines all started going again when that happened.

Artturi Lehkonen – C

Looked to disappear a bit from the ice after taking a big hit along the boards, but came back in the third and in the last ten minutes, was a menace on the forecheck.

Nathan MacKinnon – B

Had the tough moments on line changes, but also was the only guy on the top line generating some chances. Wild that he ended with nine shots on goal. Had some great moments defensively in the first period with just pure effort to stick with guys like Forsberg and Duchene.

Cale Makar – A+

I don’t even know what more to say. He’s a freak. The Avs did not have much going tonight and he did his best to create plays out of absolutely nothing. It didn’t matter if it was even strength, powerplay, or even shorthanded, he’s always pushing. Just special.

Josh Manson – D

We won’t really talk about this game because it wasn’t his best. Looked like he and Girard switched sides on the first goal and no one knew who to go to the guy in the slot. They spent a lot of time in their own end.

Valeri Nichushkin – C

Some rare big mistakes from Nuke, including a failed dump-in that led to the second Nashville goal. He bit at the defensive blue line on the third goal too and got a step behind. But comes through with the game-winning goal, and that’s what matters in the end.

Logan O’Connor – C+

Had a great shift in the third period on the penalty kill where he just hounded Ekholm all over the ice into a turnover. Didn’t do much at even strength but he made an impact in round one.

Mikko Rantanen – D

I struggle to even give him a D but he did have some moments defensively, including a sliding block in the second period, but offensively, he was non-existent. He got the puck taken off him on his first shift with a mini-breakaway and that kind of set the tone for his night. Zero shots on goal at even strength.

Nico Sturm – C

Failed clear on the first goal stinks, he obviously had the right intentions to chip it off the glass but it didn’t work out that way.

Devon Toews – A

The long stick he uses drove the Nashville forwards crazy all game long, and in game four in particular, with lots of breakups on zone entries and on the penalty kill. Just a menace defensively for other teams to deal with, and oh yeah, he scores big goals too.