Avalanche game 9 player grades - MacKinnon is already a star

The Avs were solid at even strength for most of the evening, and despite another night of poor special teams play, were able to hold off the slumping Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2-1 victory.

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

Tyson Barrie (B+) – I don’t know if the suspension woke up Barrie, but he’s looked like the dynamic Tyson Barrie that we know he can be the last two games.  He was far and away the Avs best possession player this evening (72%).  My only complaint is the same as last game.  He isn’t shooting enough on the power play, and teams then focus more on everyone else because they know he’s not going to put it on net.  I would love to see him put the puck more on net on the power play and keep the defense honest.

Francois Beauchemin (C+) – It looked like the veteran started to slow down a bit in the third period, but it might have something to do with him playing a season high 27+ minutes.  We saw more turnovers tonight from him than previous nights, particularly on the power play.

Blake Comeau (C-) – The Comeau from preseason and the start of the regular season who shot the puck from everywhere is a distant memory.  Comeau registered no shots tonight and was more or less invisible.  Avs need more from him, and I’m sure they expected a few goals by now.

Matt Duchene (C) – How different would this game have been if Duchene hadn’t been robbed by Bishop a minute into the game?  Patrick Roy said it may have effected Duchene the rest of the game, but I thought Duchene was OK, and battled defensively.  His line didn’t create much offense, but they didn’t give up  a lot.  His penalty late in the third period was unacceptable though.  He has to move his feet and skate the puck out of the zone.  Roy has always been careful about what he says about his players to the media, and he seems more willing to criticize Duchene lately.  Maybe he’s trying to get him going in a different way.

Dennis Everberg (C+) – A much more noticeable game for Everberg, although his ice time disappeared in the third period.  He stole the puck on his first shift and created a chance on a 2 on 1 with that, and his crazy forechecking work gave the Avs some momentum the shift before MacKinnon scored.

Mikhail Grigorenko (C) – I have absolutely no idea why Grigorenko was getting on the ice when he got called for Too Many Men.  No one was coming towards the bench, and the Lightning actually were coming down the ice on a rush, so it made no sense.  He did get a power play shift in the second period, but turned it over immediately after getting the puck.  His even strength play was solid, and considering the power play is a tire fire right now, he may start to see more ice time there.

Nate Guenin (D) – After a decent game by Guenin standards, it was back to business as usual with Guenin, which is not a good thing.  It’s too easy for the other team when he’s on the ice.  He doesn’t move, and when he happens to get the puck, you don’t even need to forecheck him because he’s mistake prone either way.  Once again, the worst possession player on the ice for the Avs.

Nick Holden (B) – His physical game has disappeared the last few games, but Holden had a solid night.  He may have saved the game with 12 seconds left, as Palat was all alone in front and Holden got his stick on the puck to deflect it over the net.  He was only one of three Avs players to not have negative possession numbers tonight, as he broke even.

Jarome Iginla (B) – Iggy had a team high 6 shots on goal, and assisted on both of the Avs goals.  His lack of speed while playing the point on the power play was evident tonight, as the Lightning had several shorthanded chances with him out there.  The move needs to be made to get him away from the point.  The long standing chemistry between Iginla and Tanguay was on display this evening.

Erik Johnson (C+) – I really don’t know what’s going on with him, but the Avs need more.  He had a few offensive rushes this evening, but then had a few head scratching plays where he wasn’t moving his feet.  Late in the third, he made a great escape move in the defensive zone, only to stop moving his feet and ice the puck seconds later.  He was solid defensively, but is a big part of the power play that was terrible tonight.

Gabriel Landeskog (C-) – The Captain is taking far too many selfish penalties this year, and his slashing penalty in the offensive zone tonight is another example.  The Avs had the momentum, and the Lightning got a power play goal and changed the game a bit.  Like most of the team, he was solid defensively, but they need more consistent offense from him.

Nathan MacKinnon (A) – The sophomore slump from last year is a distant memory right now.  MacKinnon looks ready to take off as a star, and tonight was his best game of the year.  He was controlling the play all over the ice, and drew two penalties from his dominance.  He’s the Avs #1 center, and that is not likely to change at any point in the next several years.

Cody McLeod (C) – McLeod did not play much tonight, but he had an OK game.  One thing that bugged me about his game was his inability to use his linemates.  There were a few times in the first when he could have passed it off, but instead chose to either control it himself and lose it, or dump the puck into a spot where no other Avs player could retrieve it.  His linemates should be the ones handling the puck.

John Mitchell (C) – Mitchell had a few key shot blocks on the penalty kill tonight, and was the Avs best faceoff man, but he’s gone back to over handling the puck a bit.  He’s a frustrating guy but as a 4th line center, you could do a lot worse.

Jack Skille (B-) – After two games, it’s evident that Skille is out of place on a top 6 line.  However, you can’t fault the guy for his effort.  He drew a penalty tonight just by outskating the Tampa defender, and had a nice game on the forecheck.  I would like to see him switched with Grigorenko to re-unite the 4th line that started the year and give Grigorenko some better linemates.

Carl Soderberg (B-) – Outside of a few questionable decisions with the puck on an early penalty kill, I thought Soderberg had a quietly solid night.  At some point, he’s going to have to bring more even strength offense, but I like his patience with the puck in the defensive zone.

Alex Tanguay (B+) – Just when you think the guy is cooked, he goes and has a game like that.  Tanguay had a goal, an assist, and just looked much more involved in the game tonight.  He even drew a penalty with his skating, and created several chances.  It took him about five games to get going last year.  Maybe he just needed a little longer this year.

Semyon Varlamov (A) – That was the Varly we’ve come to know the last two years.  He was calm in net, which has not always been the case to start this season, and he made huge saves when the team needed him.  He even showed some fire late in the third after making a nice glove save.  You know he’s capable of playing like this on a consistent basis, so I still don’t see any reason to be worried.  I love that Roy is going right back to him tomorrow night.

Nikita Zadorov (D) – Tonight was one of those games where you were reminded that there are only 2 defensemen in the NHL younger than Zadorov.  He was fumbling the puck all over the ice, and took a penalty early in the first by not moving his feet.  There will be games like this, but when he figures it out, he’s going to be very, very good.

The Avs return to the ice tomorrow, as they head to Carolina to take on the Hurricanes.  The game starts at 5 PM MST.