Avs Game 10 Grades: Jackpot

Erik Johnson – A

A quiet, strong game from the Avs leader on the blueline. He led the Avs in ice time, but because the game was so out of hand, the Avs were able to limit his ice to under 22 minutes, which is huge with another game tomorrow night.

Cale Makar – A

The Avs wanted Makar to shoot, and that he did tonight with arguably his best performance of the year. The Avs dominated possession with Makar out there, something that has not been the case this season, and he tied for the Avs team lead with five shot attempts at ES. His first official NHL goal in the regular season was a beautiful read where he snuck in the backdoor. This is something to build off.

Matt Calvert – A+

You can’t stop Matt Calvert, you can only hope to contain him. Monster performance from Calvert, who is off to an absurd offensive start, adding two goals to his total this year and seven points on the year already. He was a workhorse down low and played a big role in the PK shutting down the Knights.

Valeri Nichushkin – B-

Nichushkin wasn’t bad (not sure you could say anyone was tonight), but he didn’t make a huge impact. I do think he played fine, and created some chances, even if they didn’t go in, but nothing spectacular. He came close to his first goal in a long time in the first period off a great pass from Makar. I look at tomorrow as a great night to get Kamenev a game, but I don’t think Bednar will change up anything from this dominant performance.

Nikita Zadorov – B+

Steadiest game of the year for Big Z, despite that outlandish call on him. He was physical, jumped into the play, and showed some confidence carrying the puck. The most impressive part of his game was his penalty killing, something he’s struggling with. He broke up plays at the blueline and blocked some shots leading to clears. Despite the “demotion” to the third pair, he led all Avs D in ES ice time.

Tyson Jost – B+

Jost continued his strong play, creating a nice screen on Kadri’s first goal, to the point where it looked like he may have deflected it. The only downside to his game right now is his face-offs, but everything else about his play at center is very encouraging.

Colin Wilson – B-

Wilson has a lot of those games where he’s just quiet and steady along the boards. He doesn’t create a ton of chances for himself but does a lot of the grunt work on his line and that continued tonight.

Ryan Graves – B-

Graves’ lack of speed got exposed a bit in the second period with Carrier sneaking by him for a mini breakaway. He was the only Avs defenseman to finish under 50% in CF when score effects are taken into account. He didn’t seem to have any troubles stemming from playing his offside.

Ian Cole – A-

The Avs wanted Cole to play with Makar to give him a veteran presence. I’m unsure if that was the key to Makar exploding tonight, but it didn’t hurt. Cole picked up yet another assist in this one and another game where he was not on the ice for a goal against. He’s the Avs good luck charm right now.

Nathan MacKinnon – A+

Big MacK recognized Cody Eakin broke his stick and chose to have some fun, abusing him with spins and creating space for Kadri to break free before hitting him for the one-timer goal. The Avs needed their big man to step up with Mikko out and he did exactly that. Ten total shot attempts from him.

J.T. Compher – B-

I thought Compher struggled at times on the top line, which is to be expected given he’s not a regular there. He got a little lucky on the assist to Makar, as it was intended for Landeskog, but it was a nice look either way. You could tell with the score, Bednar was trying some different things with who he wants on that top line late, but I imagine Compher goes back there tomorrow. He was the only Avs player without an even-strength shot attempt.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – A+

Welcome back to Vegas. A red hot start by Bellemare, with two shots on his opening shift, one of which went in after a great read by him to steal the puck and go around the defenseman. This was his best all-around game of the year, as he crushed it in the face-off circle as well. He’s already 40% of the way to his point total from last season.

Samuel Girard – B+

A strong game overall from Girard, who made some nice keep ins at the blue line just prior to Kadri’s goal, even picking up an assist on it. He had a brutal decision in the second period that led to an almost 2 on 0 in his own end, pinching to stop a pass in the neutral zone and whiffing completely. Grubauer luckily bailed him out.

Joonas Donskoi – C

If there was a forward I thought “struggled”, it was Donskoi, as his overhanding of the puck led to some turnovers and chances the other way, including a mini break away for Pacioretty. The only forward to finish sub-50% in CF.

Matt Nieto – A

The Avs controlled 80% of the shot attempts with Nieto on the ice. He’s not a standout player most nights, but he does his job. A nice breakout pass to Bellemare that helped spring that first Calvert goal.

Nazem Kadri – A

You can see that he’s starting to feel it in an Avs uniform. Two more goals on the evening and he looks confident with the puck on his stick. I love when he stops on a dime and creates space for his linemates, and his ability to handle the puck in tight spots is only matched by MacKinnon.

Gabriel Landeskog – B+

Landeskog didn’t do anything to stand out in a spectacular way, but he got back to basics, playing solid defensively and throwing the puck at the net at every opportunity. It’s been a struggle for him of late, but I love seeing a stat line for him that ends with six total shot attempts.

Andre Burakovsky – B

Burakovsky can whip it, and the quick glove hand of Fleury stopped him a few times, but his shot is so quick that none of those stops were clean, and led to chaos in front. He did get a little lost on the only Vegas goal, as he got caught chasing a little too much on the backcheck.

Philipp Grubauer – A

Sure, the Avs dominated most of the game, but they did give up some high danger chances, especially in the second period. Grubauer made huge saves on a two on one and a separate breakaway in the second to keep the Avs in front and give the Knights zero momentum. He just keeps doing exactly what he needs to do.