Darcy Kuemper – B

Kind of weird game to grade. Kuemper’s best work came with the score out of hand, but it stayed there because of his best work. Of course, it only got close because of his worst work, which was that second Detroit goal that absolutely cannot happen. He’s just given up too many of those this year to feel comfortable that it’s an anomaly, but he was so good in the second half of the game that I didn’t want to drag him too hard.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – B

He really just keeps getting better. He got a game management penalty and with no Nazem Kadri in the lineup he’s the obvious guy with the reputation to get called for some nonsense when the score is out of hand. It didn’t overshadow that his first period was probably the best he’s played in an Avs uniform.

Andre Burakovsky – B+

I’m only dinging him a little here for the brutal turnover that gifted the odd-man rush that became Detroit’s first goal. It happened, it was the exact kind of soft nonsense that has driven me crazy about Burakovsky in recent weeks, but he scored two goals in this game and with a little more luck could’ve had a four-goal night.

J.T. Compher -B+

He didn’t play a lot in his return to the lineup but scored on a deflection to get the game going in Colorado’s direction. Classic Compher, 2021 Edition.

Samuel Girard – A+

If Devon Toews and Cale Makar weren’t having superhuman starts to the season, games like tonight would elevate how awesome Girard is when he’s at his best. He was that once again tonight and the Avs going 15-6 in scoring chances with him on the ice is a decent example of what happens when G is right.

Darren Helm – A

This is the best Helm has played for the Avalanche by a huge margin. If only the Avs played a former team of his every night, I guess? Great finish on the breakaway to run Greiss from the game.

Erik Johnson – B

Good EJ is just so different from “total trainwreck disaster EJ” and tonight was another good example. Next to Girard, this pairing consistently denied chances and pushed play the other direction. Good, solid, sturdy effort. When he limits mistakes, the Avalanche defense is on a different level.

Jack Johnson – C+

Got an assist, had good shot metrics, everything. The only reason I’m not giving him a higher grade here is that I genuinely can’t remember anything he did in this game that had an impact outside of the assist, which was a freebie from the league anyway.

Tyson Jost – B

That’s better. Back to eating up opposing bottom lines, Jost was very effective in his role tonight outside of the PK (that entire unit was awful and I’m not sure why or what to do so I’m just glossing over it) and added an assist on Girard’s “this game is really over” goal.

Gabriel Landeskog – TBD

He was playing fine, had an assist (who didn’t tonight, sheesh), was humming along just fine, and then didn’t return to the ice for the third period with what the team called a lower-body injury and with no timeline. His play was fine, whatever, but the Avs desperately need this injury thing to just chill the hell out.

Kurtis MacDermid – INC

I’ve always refrained from giving guys grades when they just don’t play very much. What am I going to say about MacDermid’s 5:13 that his ice time doesn’t? Things went fine with him out there. He even managed two shots on goal. Cool, but this can’t continue.

Nathan MacKinnon – B

Expectations for MacKinnon are so high that when he has a goal on six shots and fine shot metrics, it feels like a disappointment. For others, that’s a high-water mark on the year. For 29, it feels like he’s just another one of the guys at the moment. That’s not a criticism.

Cale Makar – A

Two more points and a shot metric domination. His skating was fun as always as he continues to make me look smart by comparing him to Allen Iverson. His footwork at the blueline is to hockey as Iverson’s crossover was to basketball. Iconic.

Jacob MacDonald – C+

Scoring chances with MacDonald on the ice were 9-1 in Colorado’s favor? That one, though? Between Burakovsky not making a decision with the puck and MacDonald abdicating all responsibility for seemingly no reason, the Avs created Detroit’s first goal all by themselves.  Says a lot about MacDonald that he recovered as well as he did, however.

Alex Newhook – A

I can’t stop raving about his play. He’s putting in the work to be a productive role player right now but this is all building to something bigger. He’ll go through a scoring slump eventually but he’s already finding ways to impact the game, especially defensively, when the scoring takes a dip. Another very good night for Newhook.

Valeri Nichushkin – C+

One of just four Avs skaters to not register a point and shot metrics were good but not great. Arguably his most memorable moment was him driving the net late in the third period in a 7-3 game. It was hilarious and awesome. Keep ’em honest, Nuke.

Logan O’Connor – C+

Like Nichushkin, did not register a point tonight but played his role on his line well. He wasn’t awesome or jaw-dropping tonight and it’s a testament to his play this year that I’m even pointing that out. He just put in a good, honest effort.

Mikko Rantanen – C+

Nobody frustrates me like Mikko Rantanen. A supremely talented player who has 302 points in his last 270 games, this is clearly me being a little nitpicky. Incredible solo effort on his assist to Burakovsky. Everything else made me want to tear what’s left of my hair out. I’m genuinely impressed, however, at how well he manages his occasional transition to center when the team needs. That’s rare.

Devon Toews – A

A three-assist night and I’m not giving him the best grade of the night? That’s life when expectations are sky-high. You can tell he’s the true anchor of Colorado’s defense because he’s the guy the coaching staff is moving around in different pairings to help steal positive shifts next to Sam Girard. “True anchor” is just code for elite two-way defenseman, I guess. Toews is extremely good and the staff utilizes him in ways they don’t anyone else, including Makar.