Avs-Blackhawks player grades: The Carl and J.T. Show

What a win, eh Avs Nation? Wow, not sure I saw that coming in the third there, but it’s a Colorado Avalanche road victory in Chicago, putting them two points up on the Hawks, with a game still in hand. If the atrocious Detroit Red Wings weren’t the opponent for the Minnesota Wild tonight, the Avs would not still be one point behind them for the last wild card spot still. But the Avs have a game in hand over them too.

The grades:

Mikko Rantanen (B-) – Not a great game for No. 96, but not too bad either. Got an assist and had the puck on his stick a fair amount. He’s been playing better of late after that drought.

Nathan MacKinnon (B-) – Pretty much the same kind of game as Rantanen. Had six shots on net, but was kept off the score sheet. He won 7-of-13 faceoffs and did some good things defensively.

Gabe Landeskog (A-) – That third-period goal gets him into the A category, even though his puck-possession numbers weren’t very good. Yeah, Blackhawks boosters will call it a soft goal, but Landy showed that good things can happen when you put pucks on net. Nothing can happen if you don’t put pucks on net.

Carl Soderberg (A) – Two more goals for Carl, 21 now on the season. (For those asking why we always refer to him as just “Carl”, my colleague A.J. Haefele asked him, after he signed with the Avs, what his nickname was. He said “just Carl”). Carl’s puck-possession numbers actually weren’t great, and Varly bailed his line out a few times with the pads. But, two goals is two goals is two goals.

Alexander Kerfoot (B) – What a great little backhand sauce pass to Carl on that first goal of his, also the first goal of the game. Kerfoot took a lead pass from Sven Andrighetto and dangled the puck a bit in front of Duncan Keith, then made him look foolish with the backhander saucer. That alone got him his grade.

J.T. Compher (A+) – Two goals and an assist, playing in what practically is his home town. Nice night for Jimothy Timothy. After I ripped him a bit a week or two ago, he’s been lights out. Is that a reverse DaterJinx? Can I take credit for his improved play? No? Ok then. Not just the goals, the timeliness of things tonight stood out, including his won faceoff before his own power-play goal. And, of course, his breakaway game-winner.

Matt Calvert (B-) – I thought it was an up-and-down game for Calvy. His puck-possession numbers were poor and the Blackhawks scored a couple goals on the PP, and he’s a lead PK guy. But he had an assist and I’ve really liked his overall play of late. He’s a leader-type.

Matt Nieto (C) – A pretty quiet night for Neetsy in all phases. Did manage a couple shots on goal, but didn’t even play 10 minutes.

A.J. Greer (A) – A guy who gets two shots on goal, three hits and positive Corsi numbers in just 5:13 of ice time? Yeah, that’s a great night for a fourth-liner.

Andrew Agozzino (B+) – Things have calmed down some for Aggie since that first-career-goal night, but the man was credited with five hits tonight in a little more than six minutes of ice time. Attaboy Aggie!

Tyson Jost (C) – Yeah, that was kind of a BS call on him against Kane, but the retaliator always gets called against a superstar. Jost should have realized that. Mostly a pretty quiet night for No. 17, though he created some offensively. He just wasn’t rewarded on the stat sheet like last game.

Sven Andrighetto (B) – Not a bad game at all for Sven 10. His pass to Kerfoot was a real good one, on that first goal by Carl. He did his job tonight, which is go up and down the wing and don’t embarrass yourself defensively.

Erik Johnson (D) – Not a great night really for EJ. Seemed like he was always a step too late tonight, always chasing the puck. His puck-possession numbers (12 Corsi for, 24 against) speak to this truth.

Sam Girard (B) – I thought he was better than his analytics might appear. He was a plus-2 out there and skated with the puck. I wish he’d flex some of his offensive skill a little more, but he’s obviously been told to focus more on his own end first.

Nikita Zadorov (B-) – The analytics crowd probably won’t love that grade, but hockey is played a sheet of ice, not a sheet of paper. He was physical out there and was even in plus-minus. Yeah, he was caught a couple times out of position, but Varly bailed him out and overall Z was Z. He’s not supposed to be Scott Niedermayer out there, OK?

Tyson Barrie (C+) – Played without the puck more than he had it, didn’t get anything on the score sheet. But overall, he was fine. I grade these somewhat on a curve, though, so I expect better numbers from a guy making more than $5 million than a guy making $2 million.

Ryan Graves (A-) – Played 12 minutes, blocked five shots, a plus-1. I really like what the kid has brought to the team. He’s got a real future in the league now.

Patrik Nemeth (A) – Nice game for the quiet Swede. His lead pass to Compher was a major difference in the win. He gets dumped on by Avs fans still, and sometimes deservedly. But tonight, he was a real asset in a big road win.

Semyon Varlamov (X) – Great game for the rejuvenated Russian. He gets a rare X grade from me. Superb throughout, none of the goals were his fault really. Question is, will he get the start in Nashville less than 24 hours later? I kind of doubt it. I think Jared Bednar will give him the day off, and that is probably the safe, correct call. But, Varly is back.