Avs Game 14 Grades - Avs Fall at Home Again

The Avs blew yet another lead on home ice and fell to the New York Rangers 2-1 on Friday evening.

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

Tyson Barrie (B) – Barrie had a rough first period in his own end, but so did most of the Avs.  He had some turnovers, some of which were the result of very little puck support from his teammates, but he recovered nicely the rest of the game and was very dynamic.  He had some very slick breakouts in the third period, and was causing issues in the offensive zone for the Rangers.

Francois Beauchemin (B) – I thought it was a solid game from the veteran.  I don’t like that he was out there at the end of the game over Erik Johnson, but that’s not my decision to make.  He’s come exactly as advertised to start the year.

Reto Berra (B) – Berra actually had a really good game, and looks so much more composed this season.  However, the second goal from the Rangers was an absolute killer, as Lindberg put the puck on net from the goal line and it banked off Berra’s blocker and in.  That’s the type of goal that can deflate a team, especially one as fragile as the Avs.

Blake Comeau (C+) – He had one of his better games of late tonight, but the Avs are going to need to get some production from Comeau and soon.  He had maybe the best chance of the third period for the Avs, as he was all alone in front of Lundqvist, but he was not able to lift it over the goalie.

Matt Duchene (B+) – Duchene continued his strong play, and was great in the faceoff circle tonight.  He was only credited with two shots on goal but directed several more towards the net.  It looked like he and MacKinnon had chemistry together, and they were the best players on the team in terms of possession.

Dennis Everberg (C+) – I liked what I saw from Everberg early in the game.  He was carrying the puck more and drew a penalty just by driving the net.  His ice time seemed to fall off as the game went on in favor of Cody McLeod (not sure why) and he wasn’t able to keep it going.

Brandon Gormley (D) – Gormley got his third straight game, and it was a mild surprise he was in the lineup given his struggles the night before.  However, he isn’t taking advantage of the opportunity being given to him.  He looks flustered in the defensive zone, and the passing that looked so strong in his first game and a half has disappeared.  In the first period, he had an easy breakout but missed Landeskog, who was only about 7 feet away, and it led to more zone time for the Rangers.  Given where this season seems headed, the Avs should be giving him as much minutes as they can to try to develop him.

Mikhail Grigorenko (D) – Grigorenko is another guy who has gotten more of an opportunity and tonight was not a good game for him.  He lost the faceoff that preceded the Rangers game winning goal, and I don’t think he saw much time after that.  He did get more PP time, but fumbled the puck a few times while out there.

Nick Holden (D+) – Holden had a nice hit on Stepan along the boards, but other than that, I didn’t like his game.  He was a turnover machine in the first period, including missing both MacKinnon and Barrie for an easy breakout.  Late in the third, he got the puck in the high slot, and instead of shooting from a prime position, decided to pass the puck to Erik Johnson, who was along the boards, which led to an easy save and cover for Lundqvist.

Jarome Iginla (C) – I would say it was an average game for Iginla.  I didn’t really notice him too much out there, and didn’t notice him as the defensive liability he usually is at this stage in his career.  Unfortunately, he didn’t provide much offense tonight.

Erik Johnson (B) – Like Barrie, he spent too much time in his own end in the first period, and once he created a turnover in the neutral zone at the end of the period, his game got kick started.  As mentioned earlier, I don’t understand why Beauchemin was out there over him at the end of the game.  His skating has looked much better the last two nights.

Gabriel Landeskog (D) – Roy finally admitted it after the game that Landeskog is not 100%, and I think anyone whose watched him this year should be able to see that.  His physical game doesn’t look to be there, and he wasn’t shooting the puck tonight.  If he’s hurt, he should sit out a game or two to heal up, but the Avs probably cannot afford to do that right now.

Nathan MacKinnon (A) – That goal was a thing of beauty.  He used his speed to carry the puck in and back off the defense, and then when Girardi got too close, he spun off him and took it to the net.  It’s the type of play he wasn’t making at this point last year.  He didn’t take many faceoffs tonight due to his hand being sore, but you wouldn’t have known with how he was handling the puck.

Cody McLeod (C-) – McLeod had a rather pedestrian game tonight, and he did nothing that would have earned him more ice time, but somehow he found himself on a late power play and as the 6th attacker with the empty netter.  It’s not his fault he’s out there, as it’s a terrible decision by Coach Roy, but if he’s going to be out there, he can’t be a liability, and that’s what he was.  The Avs had control of the puck in the offensive zone before he turned it over behind the net, ending the chances of a comeback.

Jack Skille (C) – Skille usually has one real noticeable rush during every game, and tonight it was him flying down the left wing and throwing the puck towards the front of the net.  Unfortunately, no one was at the front of the net to jam it home.  Other than that, he was fairly invisible.

Carl Soderberg (B-) – I thought Soderberg had another real strong game tonight, and continued his recent trend of solid play.  At this point, though, the Avs are going to need for him to provide some more offense at even strength.

Ben Street (D) – Another poor game from Street, who took the penalty that the Rangers were able to score on, and he lost 3 of the 4 faceoffs he took.  I liked what I saw from him more last year than this year.

Brad Stuart (D) – It seems like Roy is just throwing out whoever on the third pairing these days, and doesn’t have much intention of playing them.  Stuart barely played 11 minutes tonight, and had some really bad missed clears on the PK in the third period.  This spot should be reserved for developing Nikita Zadorov.

Alex Tanguay (D) – Tanguay has had a great career, but outside of two games this year, he has not looked good at all.  He’s slow, doesn’t play with any pace, and shows no urgency in his game at all.  He had an easy clear in the second period for a breakout, but was too nonchalant and turned it over.  He hurt his knee at the end of the second period, and while he tried to play in the third, was unable to continue after one more shift.

The Avs have a few days off before they head to Philadelphia to kick off a 7 game road trip on Tuesday night.  The game starts at 5:00 PM MST.