Avs Game 28 Grades: Sleepy start buries Avs

Andrew Cogliano – B

A great forecheck generated a great chance for Compher early in the game after Cogliano created a turnover behind the net to hit JTC in front, but no dice. Continues to get great looks but they aren’t going in.

J.T. Compher – B

A dominating night in the face-off circle but couldn’t bury any of the great looks he had. Had plenty of chances with what has to be a season-high of 9 shot attempts

Andreas Englund – C

About as low event as you can be in a little over 10 minutes of ice time, with just 9 total shot attempts happening. Only time he was noticeable was a cross-check behind the Avs net that managed to go uncalled.

Jean-Luc Foudy – C

His minutes decreased significantly with the return of Rodrigues, which makes a demotion seem inevitable. Played very limited minutes and didn’t do a ton out there.

Alexandar Georgiev – C-

The first shot you see being the hottest player in the league all alone is not ideal, and the second goal wasn’t much better. Had some big saves in the second before the Dahlin shot was labeled perfectly. Not a good night on the stat sheet but far from his fault.

Sam Girard – D

The Avs dominated play with Girard out there, but then he gets the puck at the point, it just feels like nothing is going to happen right now. The soft shots were blocked easily by the Sabres all night long and nothing of danger was generated.

Charles Hudon – D

Tried to force a backdoor pass in the first on the powerplay that was blocked, and only other real noticeable play was a turnover behind his net in the second. Like Foudy, saw a real decline in ice time.

Brad Hunt – C

Had to clean up a mess of created by Dryden Hunt with a nice hip check in the second period. With the Avs down so often, was surprised he wasn’t used a little more.

Dryden Hunt – C-

Decent hit in the second period along the boards countered by an ugly turnover in his own end that same period. Not a whole lot coming from him most games.

Erik Johnson – B-

Sabres didn’t really generate anything with him out there. He was a little slow to shoot in the offensive zone, but the Avs took so many point shots that I don’t even mind straying from that a little bit.

Artturi Lehkonen – B-

Had more than enough good looks, and a great play along the boards to create the Rantanen goal. Looked visibly frustrated a few times when he wasn’t able to get a deflection on some of the point shots the defensemen were taking.

Cale Makar – D

Took plenty of shots, but some of them were labeled right for the goalie’s chest. Losing the puck to Jost behind the net on the Dahlin goal was a killer, and he had an ugly turnover the next shift that luckily didn’t end up in the back of the net. Hasn’t looked like the Norris guy we saw last year and maybe playing a ton of minutes is getting to him.

Ben Meyers – C

Had a great look on a rebound chance in the third period but fired it over the net. He’s getting plenty of looks, even getting some shifts in between Nichushkin and Lehkonen in the second period. Speed is evident but haven’t seen much offensively.

Alex Newhook – C

He’s been moved all over the place in the last week, which can’t help things, but it sure doesn’t seem like the team is in love with him at center as he’s not playing a ton of that position.

Valeri Nichushkin – B-

Great pass on the Rantanen goal, and picked up an assist on the late Rodrigues goal as well, but still seems really sloppy with the puck. Had a great look on a four on two in the first period and fired it right into the goalie’s chest.

Logan O’Connor – D

We’re now over a month since his last goal and it’s looking a bit like last year with the hot start and the hard drop-off offensively. Pretty quiet night overall.

Mikko Rantanen – D

Great to score the goal in the third period, but completely got beat on the first goal, and then made a poor decision with the puck that caused a turnover, resulting in the Avs taking the too many men penalty just prior to the Sabres second goal. Took a ton of shots but the sloppy start hurt the team.

Evan Rodrigues – B

Real nice to have another speedy skilled player back in the lineup, and wasted no time getting back on the scoresheet. His passing was a little off in the first two periods and seemed to be getting the timing back in the third.

Devon Toews – D

Tuch seems to score every game against the Avs and outmuscled Toews for the second Sabres goal in front of the net. Had a rough start with some sloppy play with the puck in his own end.