Avs Game 19 Grades: Grind it out

Anton Blidh – C-

Got moved up to the Newhook line in the third period, but not quite sure why. A relatively quiet game with not a lot of physicality, one of the reasons he’s here.

Andrew Cogliano – B

I guess LOC’s shot into the empty net hit something on Cogliano, because it’s his goal now. Had a good look in the first period off a 3 on 2 that Wedgewood snared down with his glove. Super clever play in the second on the PK when he faked touching a hand pass that kind of stalled the Stars players.

J.T. Compher – C+

He took A LOT of face-offs. 25 to be exact. Almost broke even. Nearly 20 minutes of ice time with all the injuries and now moving up to the top PP unit, where he didn’t do much of anything. All that ice time and still not even strength shot attempts.

Alexandar Georgiev – A-

His only flaw was that he looked a little out of position on the only goal, but that was a bouncer. Great other than that. Stars seemed to have a lot of shots from the outside but he did a better job controlling his rebounds than in previous games. Looks completely locked in and calm every night.

Sam Girard – B+

Pretty good on the breakout and very good in the defensive zone. Offensively, still not all the way there. Had a good look in the third period but fumbled the pass a bit so the goalie was able to get into position.

Dryden Hunt – A-

Took one shot and it went in, but he was put onto that line just to crash the net, so he did exactly what he was supposed to do. Best shot share numbers on the team as well.

Erik Johnson – B

I’ll say it a million times, but a good EJ game is one where you do not notice him and did not notice him much tonight. Very physical night on the stat sheet.

Martin Kaut – B-

Had some flubs of the puck on passes, but also picked up an assist on the nice zone entry for the Hunt goal. Still getting used on the PK a little bit. Nice look to Newhook on a late powerplay.

Artturi Lehkonen – B

Blocked a big shot in the second period and looked hobbled by it. The last thing they need is for him to get hurt now. Picked up another assist, and had a good look on a one-timer early in the game.

Jacob MacDonald – B-

Hit the post in the third period on a bomb off a face-off. Ended the game with some pizzazz, after a big hit in the neutral zone and then having to fight, even though the hit was completely clean.

Nathan MacKinnon – B

The oddsmakers keep raising the shots on goal line for MacKinnon but he keeps surpassing it. Seven shots on net, including the snipe in the first period to get things going early. Could have had a few more, and even domed Wedgewood with one of his good looks.

Cale Makar – B

For all the ice time he had, he was very low event. Tried to do everything he could to avoid taking a penalty on the powerplay, even so much as to raising his arms in the air when MacKinnon would carry it in.

Josh Manson – B-

What an eventful game, and hard to grade because there was good and bad and he did it all in only 15 minutes of ice time. Three penalties, no matter what you think of them, is just not acceptable and he’s taking a lot of penalties early in the year. The third one was very obvious too. On the other hand, he jumps into the play and makes some smart plays, picking up a goal on an easy rebound and an assist off a nice give and go with O’Connor.

Jayson Megna – B–

Was absolutely flying in the first period, and thought he was even going to go end to end, but tried to force a pass to Ranta that was not there. Quiet after that.

Alex Newhook – B+

A very dangerous player when he’s moving his feet and holding onto the puck. The Hunt goal was created by Newhook carrying the puck and actually putting it at the net, something he needs to do way more of. One of his better games at center this year.

Logan O’Connor – B+

Loved his showdown with Heiskanen on the penalty kill, with Heiskanen trying to head fake him out of the lane, and LOC not even budging to block the shot. Then after it clears out of the zone, he gives Heiskanen a hack for good measure.

Mikko Rantanen – B

Didn’t pick up any points somehow, but had more than a couple of good looks, including a dandy backhand pass to MacKinnon on a 3 on 2 and a nice drop to Makar on another odd-man rush.

Sampo Ranta – C

I guess he wanted another Finn to feel his pain of a facial injury. Physical game, but not a lot happened in terms of offense.

Devon Toews – C

Far and away the worst on the defense in terms of shot share, but there just wasn’t a lot in terms of quality by the Stars so it wasn’t all that bad.