Avs Game 19 Grades: My Eyes! The Goggles do nothing!

Erik Johnson – F

EJ picked up an assist after Mike Smith flubbed his shot from the point, but it was a rough one overall. His gaps were far too big against a guy like McDavid, who will eat you alive. He was on the ice for five of the six Edmonton goals.

Kevin Connauton – D

For me, it was a surprise that he got into the game at all. He got abused by McDavid in the first period, but that happened to almost everyone in this game. He did not show any fear jumping into the play tonight, getting some decent scoring chances, including one in front of the net in the third. Him getting into this game makes me wonder if they think about swapping him and Barberio out of their roles.

Cale Makar – C

He is human after all. Makar had a great rush up the ice on his first shift of the game, which helped the Avs get into the zone prior to their goal. After that, he was kept in check all night long by the Oilers, as he was not given much room out there.

Matt Calvert – C

You have to appreciate Calvert stepping in for the Avs superstar taking a big hit on the first play of the game. The reality is there was nothing wrong with the hit at all, but Calvert is going to do what he feels he has to do. The Avs did score shortly after that but Calvert seemed to have a tame evening after coming out of the box.

Valeri Nichushkin – C

Nichushkin sure was out there a lot at the end of the game. You can tell even Bednar wants him to get a goal to get this goalless streak out of everyone’s head. He was one of the lucky ones to not be on the ice for anything tonight.

Tyson Jost – D

Grandpa Jost was at the game! His defensive zone penalty is what started this game blowing open. He had a few chances overall, but his shots when he did get some chances didn’t look dangerous at all.

Ryan Graves – F

The golden sombrero for Graves, who picked up three penalties on the evening. He was caught backing in big time on the first Edmonton goal, and when he wasn’t in the box himself, he was out there for two Edmonton power play goals. He took an absurd amount of shot attempts, and when they weren’t blocked, they didn’t seem dangerous at all.

Ian Cole – F

After a hot start coming back from injury, it’s been a struggle for Cole the last handful of games, with a healthy scratch in there as well. The decision to dive for the puck against the boards against McDavid was inexcusable. You have to know who you’re out there against, and the reality is that he was not in a dangerous spot. It’s just a needless risk to take.

Nathan MacKinnon – D

MacK is the star of this team, but tonight was not his night. He got decked on the opening shift of the game, and just didn’t have it in this one. It happens to the best of them. He did still attempt nine shots overall, but watching McDavid attack the net at every opportunity, it would be nice to see MacKinnon lower the shoulder from time to time instead of pulling up as frequently as he does. You just have to give the defense a different look.

T.J. Tynan – C-

Tynan was OK overall but was a part of the disastrous play by the forwards on the Edmonton third goal With two forwards already on that side of the ice, Tynan drifted over there as well, giving the Oilers a ton of room on the other side, which they took advantage of.

J.T. Compher – D

16 minutes on the ice and only one shot attempt. We say it all the time but the reality is, he has a great shot and just doesn’t use it enough. He does consistently feel like a guy who can be better than he is at both ends of the rink.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – C-

First of all, it was great to see him back on the ice. As for his play, he won most of his face-offs, so that’s a plus, but was a part of the PK struggles and failed to clear the puck before the Edmonton fifth goal. He also looked like he may have twisted his ankle a bit, so hopefully, nothing comes of that.

Samuel Girard – F

A lot of turnovers from Girard tonight, and the worst one of all was the cause of the Edmonton third goal. Girard gave it right to McDavid along the boards, and then managed to lose his guy behind him for an easy tap in goal. There really wasn’t a whole lot to like about the Avs defense in general in this one.

Joonas Donskoi – C

A quiet game for Donskoi overall. Didn’t create a ton, and you obviously can’t expect him to have three-point nights consistently. He is a guy who feeds off time and space and Edmonton just didn’t give the Avs any of that tonight.

Vladislav Kamenev – C

Kamenev played okay in this one and was just centimeters away from his first goal of the year after hitting the crossbar in the second period. He continues to struggle to get ice time at even strength, playing a good two minutes less than the next lowest forward.

Matt Nieto – D

That was probably Nieto’s worst game of the year, but he’s had a lot of good ones so eventually it was going to happen. He struggled with the puck on his stick and was out there for three of the Edmonton power play goals.

Nazem Kadri – C+

To me, this was such an up and down game for Kadri. I loved his patience on the first Burakovsky goal, and he drew a penalty not soon after. I hated watching him try to stickhandle around everyone, which resulted in a few of his toe-drags getting poke checked away with ease. The penalty on him was a bad call, and Kadri seemed like one of the few guys upset at the score.

Andre Burakovsky – A

Easily the best forward on the team, and it wasn’t even close. He scored their only two goals, and nearly created another, feeding Kamenev before he hit the crossbar. I didn’t like him finishing with zero shots on goal last game, and he ended this one with five.

Adam Werner – F

I feel so bad writing this because he’s being put in a really tough spot, and got no help at all from his teammates in this one, but the reality is he didn’t look super comfortable all night long and five goals on 18 shots just isn’t good. The best players in the league took advantage of a young goalie in a tough spot. The big question, for me, will be if Grubauer is back on Saturday night, do the Avs send Werner down to play games or keep him up as the backup?