Avs Game 22 Grades - Home Ice Disadvantage

Another sloppy start cost the Colorado Avalanche, and they were dominated most of the night on their way to a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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

Tyson Barrie (F) – There has to be some serious concern in regards to Barrie’s game.  He’s getting crushed on the ice (26% possession tonight) and he isn’t pushing the play at all.  Seemingly every single shot of his is getting blocked.  Something has to change.

Francois Beauchemin (D) – He had a play in the first where he missed MacKinnon on an easy breakout, then proceeded to miss on a pinch, making things worse.  Somehow, he ended up getting more ice time tonight!

Gabriel Bourque (C) – Bourque did what he was brought up to do.  Play well on the penalty kill, and provide some energy.  He did that, for the most part.

Rene Bourque (D) – A sloppy game by Bourque, as he had some defensive miscues alone, including a turnover late in the game in the defensive zone when he made the wrong decision.

Blake Comeau (B) – His strong play was rewarded with more ice time and even power play time.  He picked up a goal that almost started a come back, but did get lucky in the third to not get a major boarding penalty.

Matt Duchene (D) – He dominated in the faceoff circle, and ghosted everywhere else.  They need the pre-injury Duchene back soon.

Mikhail Grigorenko (D) – Grigs had a lot of chances to shoot early in the game, and held up way too many times.  That was the passive Grigorenko you don’t want to see.

Samuel Henley (B) – It’s always nice to see a guy get his first NHL goal in his first game, with his Mom crying in the crowd.  The penalty in the third was a real bummer, but you have to be happy for Henley.

Jarome Iginla (D) – A tougher game for Iggy tonight.  Forcing things to him on the PP hasn’t worked all year, but his even strength play has gotten better.  Tonight, it wasn’t very good.

Erik Johnson (F) – EJ was out trying to block the point mans shot on the first goal, then he makes a poor decision on the second goal.  Not a good night for him at all.

Nathan MacKinnon (F) – Any game where MacK isn’t getting anything to the net is a disappointment.  He made a lot of poor defensive zone turnovers tonight.

Andreas Martinsen (A) – He threw a few big hits, and got some energy in the building with his fight.  That was his job, and he did it well.  He was the only forward to finish with positive possession numbers.

John Mitchell (B) – Not a good night when Mitchell is your best center.  It was his 500th game, and he got his first point of the year taken away, but he did his job tonight.

Mikko Rantanen (D) – A sloppy game for Rantanen tonight, and he took too long to make some decisions with the net empty near the end of the game.

Carl Soderberg (D) – He got dropped down to the 4th line, and didn’t perform much better.  He had a chance on a 2 on 1 shorthanded in the third, but tried to force a pass to Comeau when it was way too late.

Fedor Tyutin (F) – He was on the ice for all 3 goals, and while he didn’t do much wrong on the first two, the last one was a disaster zone.

Semyon Varlamov (B) – Varly did his best to keep the team in the game, including some terrific saves early.  The second goal went in off his own player’s stick, otherwise he was there to make the save.  While he hasn’t been on top his game this year, he hasn’t gotten a ton of help.

Patrick Wiercioch (D) – Some people like the Wiercioch/Barrie pairing, but not me.  It’s way too soft.  Wiercioch got crushed on the forecheck in the second period and it led to some extended zone time.

Nikita Zadorov (D) – Some poor turnovers tonight from Z, much like a lot of the other defensemen.  He threw a nice big hit in the third, and was put back together with EJ, so that’ll be something to watch for the next game.

The Avalanche close out their disappointing home stand on Saturday against the Dallas Stars.