Avs Game 14 Grades: Curse lifted

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – A

The fourth line played a massive role in this one. Bellemare was smart with his decisions, particularly when it came to getting the puck out, and shot the puck every chance he got, as both he and Calvert led the Avs with four even strength shots on goal. Great job towards the end of the game really calming things down when Vegas had moved the game within one goal.

Andre Burakovsky – D

The top line picked up all three of the Avs goals, but Burakovsky didn’t play much of a role and seemed to struggle with the puck at all times. At one point, he came out of the box and immediately had two rough turnovers in his own end in the third period. If this hadn’t been Landeskog’s first game in a few weeks, he would have stepped right back onto the top line.

Bowen Byram – C-

Byram had a fantastic first period, showing poise with the puck under pressure and helping to move things forward. Once the game restarted in the evening, he just didn’t have it, as Vegas really hemmed in on him with the forecheck, forcing some turnovers. After the final Vegas goal, he didn’t touch the ice again.

Matt Calvert – A

Welcome back, Calvy. A big boost to the fourth line with his energy and ability to cycle the puck into oblivion. Four shots on goal at even strength to help lead the team, and a really strong night overall.

J.T. Compher – C

Compher did nothing at even strength, but his saving grace was the penalty kill, and he was massive on the 5 on 3 kill. At one point he got the puck behind his own net, and instead of firing it around, knowing it wouldn’t clear, he ate it a little bit and kicked it over to Graves for the clear. Also had a big block later in the shift.

Joonas Donskoi – B

Donskoi was probably the best part of that second line, with some smart plays defensively (one poor attempted clear notwithstanding) and creating some chances offensively. I don’t have a problem with them disallowing his goal for incidental contact, but there should not have been a penalty.

Samuel Girard – B-

Great first period, where he might have been running heavily off adrenaline after not being able to skate for a while. In the evening, it seemed like his legs weren’t quite as quick, and Vegas sure seemed ready for all of his spin moves. Still, his possession numbers seem to show there were no real big issues overall. Something to be said for him leading the team in even strength ice time despite coming off a long break. Pratt couldn’t resist holding back.

Ryan Graves – B+

Starting to get more of the Graves from last year. Huge night on the penalty kill, particularly the 5 on 3 where he was massive with clears and breaking up passes. With a return for EJ seemingly nowhere in sight, they’ll need him to be strong and perhaps more importantly find some consistency.

Philipp Grubauer – B

Another really strong night in a tough situation for a goaltender. Unlike Fleury, he made some big saves but never looked wild and out of control. The first goal, he had the right idea trying to clear the rebound to the corner, but it hit his own man and chaos ensued. Tough luck on the second goal as well, but a big glove save right after that to calm things down.

Tyson Jost – C

A great night on the penalty kill for Jost, including a huge shot block in the second period. That line struggled at even strength and didn’t really spend any time in the offensive zone.

Nazem Kadri – D

I didn’t have any huge problems with Kadri until later in the game. He got beat pretty badly on the second Vegas goal, but the reality was that Tuch made a great play and sometimes you have to give those guys credit. However, I hated Kadri trying to bank the puck off Fleury from behind the net with only a few minutes late, because he missed terribly and it almost created a breakaway the other way. That’s the type of chance you can’t really take late in the game when you’re trying to protect a lead.

Gabriel Landeskog – C

You could tell the hands weren’t there after such a long layoff, but he had a few chances, including hitting the crossbar in the second period. Made some nice plays to get the puck into the zone on the powerplay but struggled with some clears late in the game that he usually doesn’t have issues with.

Nathan MacKinnon – A

The best player in the world. It’s telling when a top-flight defenseman like Pietrangelo knows it’s trouble when MacKinnon is coming up the ice with speed. That was an all-world player making a big play on a huge stage. Great game overall and his plays in the defensive zone can’t go unnoticed either.

Cale Makar – B-

His game got better as it went on, as you could see some rust there for him. Fumbled the puck a bit just before Vegas was able to get their first goal, but his game really picked up in the third period, when you could see his legs really get going. Showed off his lateral mobility again by dancing around Pacioretty late.

Valeri Nichushkin – A

Nichushkin was back to his natural habitat playing on the fourth line with like-minded players where there really isn’t any expectation of offense. Loved his play in the second period where he came down the wing on Pietrangelo and got a sneaky good shot off.

Mikko Rantanen – B+

Great game offensively from Rantanen, picking up a few assists and even playing the role that Landeskog usually takes, winning the face-off at the end of the game prior to the Toews goal. Lost his man on the Martinez goal, however, and you could see tell he knew it.

Brandon Saad – C+

Not a ton offensively from Saad in this one, but I love the plays he makes in the defensive zone. In the first period, Vegas had a player alone in the slot, and when the pass went to him, Saad just executed a perfect stick lift to take the puck away from him. That defensive awareness has been a big addition to the team overall.

Conor Timmins – D

There continue to be struggles for Timmins, mostly whenever the puck gets on his stick. He had a few turnovers in the second period and got lucky at one point when he passed it directly to a Vegas player in the defensive zone but the puck rolled off his stick pretty quick. Didn’t even hit 10 minutes overall.

Devon Toews – A

It’s wild that the Avs went years struggling to find a top-four defenseman and then Sakic just randomly picks one up for a few draft picks. The strongest defenseman on the team this evening, eating up heavy minutes and frustrating Mark Stone all night long. Game-winning goal, an assist, and the strongest shot metrics on the defense. Not bad.