Let’s nice waste any time with small talk and just get right to another bunch of disappointing Avalanche player grades from tonight’s game with Vancouver:

Alexander Kerfoot (D) – Played on a line with MacKinnon and Wilson, and had no shots on net in the first period. It makes sense on paper to put him with a shooter like MacKinnon, but he didn’t have the puck enough to make this line effective.

Nathan MacKinnon (B-) – I thought he skated his butt off and tried to get pucks on net and make plays, but nothing went in for him. He’s got one goal in seven games now.

Colin Wilson (D) – Just not cutting it anymore as a top-six forward. Probably entering the final two months of his Avs career. Effort was fine, but results just not there.

Gabe Landeskog (D) – Not a lot to speak of in this one. Can’t think of any real scoring chances he had. He’s had a great year, but this was one for the garbage can.

Mikko Rantanen (D) – Pretty much the same thing I just said about Landy. What happened to his dangerous shot? Seems like he can’t find those corners anymore right now.

Matt Nieto (C) – Well, he posted an assist. So there’s that. But otherwise was pretty much invisible.

J.T. Compher (D) – He’s gone into something of a funk offensively too. Just not enough tangible production right now. You always like his effort, but he’s gotta score too.

Matt Calvert (B) – He scored the lone Avs goal and generally was tough to play against. He’s been part of a bad PK unit for a while now, though. But he wasn’t the problem tonight.

Sheldon Dries (C+) – He had two shots on net and won five of eight faceoffs. I mean, on this night, that’s pretty good.

Sven Andrighetto (F) – I don’t know what happened to this kid’s game, but he just has kind of fallen off the map. Here’s a guy who scored a huge playoff goal and was getting some top six ice time last year, but now he’s become a non-factor most night, like this one.

Gabriel Bourque (D-) – Only played 8:26. The usual story.

Ian Cole (F) – Foolish pinch in the game’s first 90 seconds led to the 2-on-1 goal that set the tone for the night. Sloppy with puck other times too.

Erik Johnson (D) – Minus-2, not great offensively (and I know he’s not considered an offensive D-man anymore, but he has such good talent with the puck). Nice to see him back after missing a few games though.

Tyson Barrie (F) – Out of position on a couple goals, turned pucks over a couple times, ineffective on the power play. Barrie’s offense giveth when his defense taketh away, usually. Not tonight.

Nikita Zadorov (B+) – Had six hits and assisted on the only goal.

Patrik Nemeth (C+) – Played nearly 14 innocuous minutes. I’m trying to stay positive here.

Sam Girard (D) – Ice time continues to decline, along with his play. He did have four shots on goal, but he’s not lugging the puck out of the zone with as much confidence anymore, or so it seems. It’s a real worry.

Semyon Varlamov (D) – Obviously, not a great showing. Keeps mysteriously allowing goals on seemingly innocent shots. Not coming up with any timely saves for this time right now, not for a while now.