Avs Game 65 Grades: Scratch that from the record

Mark Barberio – C+

I thought the third pair had a great first period and kind of slid down from there, but given how ugly this game was, it worked out. Barbs did a great job taking a hit to make a play on the game-winning goal.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – C+

Hit the post in the second period, and boy, a goal early in that period could have helped spring this game open a little bit. Had another good night in the face-off circle, the only Avs player to do so. Really didn’t play a ton.

Ian Cole – D

Cole was somehow the only Avs defender to finish below 50% in shot share, and it wasn’t even that close. He got moved up a little bit with Makar being a surprise scratch, and it looked pretty ugly at times. Lost his battle on the only goal by the Wings.

J.T. Compher – D

I don’t really understand how he has nights like these, where he plays 22 minutes in the game, attempts only one shot, and it doesn’t hit the net. That’s a lot of minutes to kind of be stuck in the mud.

Joonas Donskoi – D

Donskoi took a hit in the second period and looked to be shaken up a good bit. We are getting a pretty decent look at the inconsistent Donskoi that played in San Jose, particularly the last half of last season. He really does disappear for long stretches.

Samuel Girard – B-

Sam was quite good at even strength, but taking over for Makar on the power play, things were pretty ugly. He’s not to blame for all of it, but that shot fears no one, so teams don’t really look at him as a threat. Got into a bit of a tiff with Larkin at the end of the second. His turnover was what caused the breakaway for Mantha.

Ryan Graves – B-

Another point for Graves. He was stuck out there on the long shift that the Wings scored on, but made up for it on Namestnikov’s goal. When he can get his shot through, it’s tough for goalies to handle, and Bernier couldn’t control it.

Michael Hutchinson – B+

The first (and only) goal was ugly. He was flopping on the ice like a fish. After that, he settled down, and the Avs did a good job, for the most part, keeping the shots from the hard areas. Easily his biggest save of the night came on the Mantha breakaway with seconds left in the second period.

Erik Johnson – C+

EJ looked like he thought he was young again, jumping up into the play a ton in the first. Last game gave him some good confidence, and with Makar out, he played a ton, leading the team in time on ice.

Vladislav Kamenev – D

It’s just not looking good here. He fumbled the puck leaving the zone in the third that nearly led to a regroup and just looks completely sagged with confidence. He did have a nice shift down low offensively that period and hit Cole in front for a good chance early in the game.

Martin Kaut – B+

Kaut did a lot of good things in this game and was part of the shift to control the puck prior to the Avs first goal. His ice time was disappointingly low, maybe because of all the special teams, and yet, he was only on the ice for one shot attempt by the Wings all game.

Tyson Jost – B

Drew two more penalties, and took one of his own, although I’m not sure he did much wrong. He was still buzzing in this one and had a nice chance off the rush in the third.

Gabriel Landeskog – A-

The Captain continues to look better offensively, taking a huge hit to make the breakaway pass to O’Connor on the game-winner. He does not look completely natural in the shooting spot on the power play, and it’s fairly obvious.

Nathan MacKinnon – C-

MacK picked up a point tonight, so he has yet to go three straight games without a point, but it was still not a good game. Against a team with a horrible defense like Detroit, sure would have liked to see him kick it into gear a bit more.

Vladislav Namestnikov – A-

First goal in an Avs uniform was a dirty one, as he was battling in front of the net with two Wings defenders and did just enough to get his stick on it, otherwise it would have been a kicking motion. The staff’s trust in him is rising.

Valeri Nichushkin – A-

Nichushkin was a monster all game in this one, not allowing anything dangerous to really happen when he was on the ice, and controlling the puck down low. Picked up an assist on the first goal.

Matt Nieto – C+

Nieto had a good chance early in the game in front of the net, but Bernier stoned him. The offense has really dried up for him after a hot start, like most of the depth players, but he still provides value defensively.

Logan O’Connor – B+

I’m not sure how he got so wide open (Wings not paying attention to a line change, I guess), but you take them any way you can get them, and he picked up the game-winner on the breakaway. The staff appears to be leaning more towards him than Kamenev right now.

Nikita Zadorov – C

Like I said with Barbs, the pair started out well and faded a bit. Every time he jumped up the ice he fumbled the puck. Overall, that pair was on the ice for a lot more shot attempts for than against.