Avs Game 29 Grades: Defensive dominance

Mark Barberio – B

I really liked Barbs tonight. He kept it simple and didn’t try to do anything outside of what he’s capable of. I nice read on the Cole goal to make that pass, and I thought he stepped up his game after Makar went down with some nice zone entry denials.

Pierre Edouard Bellemare – B+

“Rock solid” is the term I would use to describe Bellemare in this one. Nothing fancy, just solid play at all ends of the ice, and effort everywhere. Some big-time shot blocks down the stretch.

Andre Burakovsky – B

The only way to describe him is a “game breaker”. He was much better tonight than he was in his first game back, but that goal in the second period is the exact type of goal the Avs didn’t get last year from secondary players. That was a tremendous play and a great finish.

Ian Cole – B-

There were things I didn’t love about his game tonight, including some giveaways, but that shot was perfect. You can’t use an opposing player better as a screen than he did on that goal. Congratulations on game #500 in the NHL.

J.T. Compher – C

Compher was tasked with a tough job tonight, as he was playing center and Bednar matched him up a lot against Marchand and Pastrnak. He’s just not built for that defensively but tried his best to hold his own. Had an ugly turnover late that nearly cost the Avs.

Joonas Donskoi – A

Donskoi was a monster tonight. Loved his work all over the ice. He was tenacious along the boards and his work with the puck was really good, save for one turnover in the second period. Loved his ability to manipulate the defense on the Cole goal.

Pavel Francouz – A

What else do you say? He barely saw the puck in the second period, and did what he had to do basically cold in the third period. The rebounds aren’t always pretty but he’s getting the job done.

Samuel Girard – B

Another solid game from #49, and he and Zadorov are working well together in the defensive zone. I’ve noticed that Girard has been a lot more chippy defensively this season and it’s come back into his game of late. I don’t like zero shot attempts from G on any night, but this was a relatively low event game overall.

Ryan Graves – B+

He looked a little lost on the Bruins’ only goal, as he had a turnover and was just caught in no man’s land in front of Grubi, but bounced back nicely after that. Like Barberio, he was one guy who really stepped it up after Makar went down.

Philipp Grubauer – INC

Just have to hope for the best here. Another run without your starting goaltender is just not good.

Vladislav Kamenev – C

Kamenev didn’t touch the puck a ton tonight, but there were two moments the coaching staff will probably love. One was running McAvoy over behind the Bruins net, and two was the sliding blocked shot in the third period. They want to see intensity from him, and those plays will help his case.

Tyson Jost – B

Jost was a lot more noticeable in this one. He had a nice forecheck in the first where he knocked Chara off the puck and played a role in the Cole goal as well. Picked up an assist on the Nichushkin goal, but he probably played a bigger role on Cole’s.

Gabriel Landeskog – B-

That top line didn’t have any highlight-reel plays but just solid hockey all around. Landy obviously changes the complexion of the offense, but having him back helps out so much defensively. The penalty late was rough, but it’s pretty obvious he was just trying to get the puck out and just missed it in his swing.

Nathan MacKinnon – B+

The Avs top line set the tone early in this one offensively, pinning the Bruins in deep several times. They got caught out there too long on the Bruins only goal, but MacKinnon took advantage of no Patrice Bergeron tonight and played really well.

Cale Makar – C

WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!? Just hoping for the best at this point. A normal play with an unfortunate result.

Valeri Nichushkin – B+

I didn’t love him early in this one, but he played much better after his goal. Given what he’s done in the last two weeks it’s pretty insane he went over a full season of NHL games without scoring a goal.

Matt Nieto – A

Such a smart play on the Nichushkin goal to get it down low instead of risking getting a shot blocked. Always in position defensively and was really good getting the puck out of his own end tonight.

Mikko Rantanen – B

Any night where Mikko gets five shot attempts at even strength I will take. Sometimes he’s too quick to pass, so when he feels like ripping it on net, you have to take that. Nearly had a backhand beauty in the second period but hit the crossbar.

T.J. Tynan – C-

Really thought Tynan had some issues in the defensive zone in this one. The Bruins didn’t get much in the first period but Tynan had a turnover at the blue line that led to some of their chances.

Nikita Zadorov – A+

Possibly the best defensive game Zadorov has ever played. Any time Pastrnak touched the puck, Z was on him and made him aware of what was going on, many times just straight up separating him from the puck. Played over 27 minutes in this one, and he earned every second of that ice time.