Avs/Blues Game 4 Grades: Wrap it up

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – A

Bellemare, low-key, had a tremendous series. Great work on the penalty kill, and a ton of blocked shots. He blocked one in the third period tonight that seemed to take him out of the game, but he returned real late. Hit a post early in the game as well. A real strong series.

Andre Burakovsky – C

Burky’s confidence doesn’t look there offensively, and his balance was bizarrely bad in game four. The wild part is that his advanced metrics were great this series. Offensively, they will need more in round two with no Kadri around. Had a great chance early and didn’t even look that dangerous because he took so long to get the shot off. Maybe I just have higher expectations for him at this point.

J.T. Compher – A

Another guy who had a great series but maybe didn’t show up on the scoresheet. Good work on the penalty kill and used a lot in tougher situations the final two games. Had a chance to get on the board in the third period but Binnington robbed him a few times.

Joonas Donskoi – B-

Donskoi worked his butt off all game, and even though the hands were not necessarily there, liked how much he was battling. Had some great work defensively and down low to keep control of the puck.

Sam Girard – A-

A really nice game from him, particularly defensively. Late in the game, O’Reilly tried to play keep away from Girard, and Girard kept him to the outside and it worked perfectly, ending with a nice breakout pass from him. Now he hopefully gets a few days to rest up. His only tough moment came in the first period defending Robert Thomas, but Grubauer bailed them out.

Ryan Graves – B

This has been bizarro season for Graves, the opposite of last year, where he was great in the regular season and in the postseason struggled. His regular season was really up and down, but in the postseason, he’s stepped up big time.

Philipp Grubauer – B-

Beat by some great shots by Tarasenko, who made his first appearance of the series (a little too late). Beyond that, made some great saves, particularly on Bozak towards the end of the first period when both teams were still feeling each other out.

Tyson Jost – B-

Not a great penalty to take late in the game, and it did hurt the team a little bit, as Soderberg on the penalty kill proved to not be as effective as Jost. Still lots of hard work and some good chances in the slot, including one he wired wide of the net in the second period.

Gabriel Landeskog – B+

I think, more than anyone, Landeskog took the O’Reilly “We’re going to win” comments personally, and it showed all series. Another goal right in front of the net with one of his patented deflections, and a great pass to spring MacKinnon and Rantanen for the game-winning goal.

Nathan MacKinnon – B+

Weirdly enough, I think he has more to give offensively, as that line did spend a good bit of time in their own end in the final three games, but came up offensively when they were needed tonight, that’s for sure. As we saw against Dallas last year, MacKinnon and Rantanen on a two-on-one in the third period is pretty money.

Cale Makar – A

Great rush on the Saad goal to really get things going, but where he excelled tonight (and all series) was defensively. The Blues had nothing going with him on the ice. He was tough along the wall, had a great stick, and took away any space they had. Worked O’Reilly real good just prior to Rantanen’s goal.

Patrik Nemeth – B

I initially hated Nemeth down low on the Tarasenko breakaway but watching the replays…I don’t think he did anything wrong. That’s what the staff wants from everyone on defense, and watching the overhead, he had plenty of coverage back. His partner kind of fell asleep there. And beyond that, Nemeth had a real strong game defensively and was tough again in front of the net.

Alex Newhook – INC

Well, this sucks. Went hard into the boards and left the game with back stiffness. Hopefully the short series gets him the rest needed for round two.

Valeri Nichushkin – B

That empty-net goal was the most Nuke goal ever. Head down, launches the puck at Krug’s chest, and battles for a rebound that ultimately didn’t even matter but he doesn’t know any other way. A really strong series from him.

Mikko Rantanen – B

He was going to score eventually, and couldn’t have picked a better time. The penalty he took, I thought, was the right call, and not something he needs to be doing. There’s still another level to his game, which is wild.

Brandon Saad – A

Honestly, felt like he might have been their best forward. Great shot to get things going, and he worked his butt off all game with smart plays all over the ice. Nice to have a guy who has won it all before in games where you have to close things out.

Carl Soderberg – B-

His chance in front of the net in the second period was pretty awkward to watch, as he didn’t even get a shot off, but liked how he worked. He is limited, but certainly a good 13th forward to bring in out of the press box. Great pass to Timmins in the second where he was robbed.

Conor Timmins – C

Robbed of his first goal in the second period, but then followed it up by losing the guy right behind him for a breakaway. The staff was not happy after that, as he only took three shifts after Tarasenko beat him.

Devon Toews – B+

Rough turnover early in the game where Barbashev completely missed the net to bail him out, then settled down big time after that and was his usual solid self. Love his instincts when it comes to joining the rush.