Avs Game 10 Grades - Ugly Home Win

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The Colorado Avalanche had a tough first period, but slowed the game down and did just enough to pull out a 1-0 victory against the Minnesota Wild.

How did each player perform?  Let’s find out…

Tyson Barrie (B-) – Barrie fumbled the puck quite a bit tonight, but when he was on the ice, the Avs were really good, controlling the majority of the play.

Francois Beauchemin (C) – A quiet game for Beauchemin, which isn’t bad.  He had a tough icing late in the game but in the end, it didn’t hurt the team.

Rene Bourque (C+) – Bourque had one of his better games this year, which isn’t exactly high praise.  He needed to be taken off the PP, and he was, but if he plays like that, he’ll be OK.

Joe Colborne (C) – Colborne got a little more ice time tonight, and showed better than he has the last little while.  Won a big faceoff towards the end of the game after some icings.

Blake Comeau (C+) – When Comeau drew two penalties on one shift, it could have changed the game, but the Avs 5 on 3 was rather awful.  Comeau had a better game, but maybe some of that was getting moved down the lineup.

Matt Duchene (B) – Beautiful pass on the only goal by Duchene.  He’s doing great things in the faceoff circle when the team really needs someone like that.

Mikhail Grigorenko (B-) – I liked Grigo’s game after being put back in the middle.  He was more engaged most of the night.  He had two awful icings later in the game, but played well most of the night.

Jarome Iginla (D) – Iggy lost some unfortunate board battles that he wouldn’t have lost many years ago, but it’s the way it is now.  No shots on the night for Iggy.

Erik Johnson (C-) – A rather pedestrian game for EJ.  I hope he now knows to check his stick on the bench before going out on the ice.  Almost cost the Avs late in the game.

Gabriel Landeskog (B+) –  The Captain did what he had to do tonight, after voicing his displeasure after the last home game.  The “fight” with Dubnyk got the team and crowd energized, and he was able to bury his second game winner of the year.

Nathan MacKinnon (B) – I want to see MacK shooting the puck more, especially on the 5 on 3.  He’s been too eager to hold onto it this year.  That line did a lot of good things, and MacK got robbed in the third by Dubnyk.

Andreas Martinsen (C-) – A quieter night for the big Norwegian.  He had a couple of fumbled pucks in his own end on the breakout.

John Mitchell (C) – Mitchell was having a quiet night until he blew up Zucker with a huge hit.  It’s probably been a strange 24 hours for him, but he was still able to help the team tonight.

Calvin Pickard (A) – We’re probably not very far from having a real goalie controversy on our hands.  Pickard was tremendous in net, even if he got lucky a few times, like late in the game.  He’s earning himself some starts.

Mikko Rantanen (B+) – That assist was a long time coming.  You have to wonder how much Bednar loves the guy when he’s already got him QB’ing the top PP unit.

Carl Soderberg (C-) – The Avs just need more from Soderberg, at both ends of the ice, and they’re really struggling when he’s out there.

Fedor Tyutin (C-) – He might have thought he was back in the early 2000’s with his two penalties.  Unfortunately you can’t hog tie guys like that anymore and get away with it.  Other than that he was fine.

Patrick Wiercioch (C) – If you don’t notice Wiercioch much on the night, then it probably was a decent one for him.  It would be ideal if he didn’t hit Rantanen in the face with any more pucks though.

Nikita Zadorov (D) – Not a great afternoon for the big man.  He had some good moments, but struggled a good chunk of the night and when he thinks too much, he gets himself in trouble.  Needs to skate the puck up more like he did on his rush in the 3rd.

The Avalanche return to the ice tomorrow afternoon against the St. Louis Blues.  The game starts at 3 PM MST.