Avs/Coyotes Game 3 Grades: Goalied

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – A

The fourth line was incredible. Consistent offensive zone time, and grinding away every shift. Bellemare, through two periods, wasn’t even on the ice for a shot attempt against at even strength. Just a great performance from him, including a backdoor setup to Graves in the first that hit iron.

Andre Burakovsky – B-

Burakovsky’s ice time was, once again, limited all night long, and it’s disappointing that in-game where the Avs wired shots left and right at the net, he only finished with one shot attempt. The Avs have to get through to him that he needs to wire that puck more because his shot is too good to waste.

Matt Calvert – A

His best game in the bubble, with hard work all night, including spinning Jason Demers into submission down low at one point before attempting a wrap.

Ian Cole – B

A nice bounce-back game from Cole, who had struggled in both games prior to this one. It ended with him being promoted in the third period to play with Girard as the Avs were trying to tie it up.

J.T. Compher – C

A bit of a step back game for Compher, but not bad by any means. The Avs generally dominated in face-offs, but Compher was the only player below 50%.

Joonas Donskoi – F

No clue why Donskoi missed last game, but he didn’t exactly step in seamlessly here and looked a little lost most of the game.  He had good positioning on the first Coyotes goal to make a play but just didn’t tie up Stepan’s stick. One of only a handful of players to finish well below 50% in shot share.

Pavel Francouz – C+

This might anger some folks, but I didn’t like the second goal. The Avs had the momentum and Francouz didn’t have to do a whole lot in the second period, and one of the first tough shots he sees goes in. Any short side goal, I’m not a big fan of. He played really well in the first period of this one, but that second goal is the goal Grubauer didn’t give up in game one when Kuemper was on his game.

Samuel Girard – D

I would say Sam has only looked good in one game since entering the bubble, and that was the Dallas beat down in Round Robin. He looks sloppy with the puck, fumbling passes and his passing is just off. Arizona is hitting him any chance they get and he has just looked off.

Ryan Graves – B

Graves hit the post early pinching in, and had a nice chance in the second period jumping into the play. I’d much rather see that then the Avs feeding him for point shots, which can easily get blocked. That’s what happened in the third, and led to some plays dying.

Erik Johnson – D+

EJ had a pretty ugly game all over the ice, struggling with clears left and right, but made up for a lot of that with one shift in the second with huge shot blocks, including one that seemed to save a sure goal. He didn’t play much in the third, so maybe the blocks got to him.

Tyson Jost – C+

Jost had another solid game. I don’t like the penalty down low in the defensive zone, but he had some more good moments in the offensive zone.

Nazem Kadri – F

This was a big step back. He didn’t get much help from his linemates, but Kadri flubbed the breakout in the first that led to the Coyotes goal, and his line overall just got manhandled all night long. I am not opposed to the Avs putting Landy back on that line to give him someone else to roll with, but not sure they do that.

Gabriel Landeskog – D

Landy had some jump early and played better overall than he did on Friday, but still seems a little off. Had a nice rush up the ice where Kuemper had to make a nice save on him. Would like to see him take it to the net a little more.

Nathan MacKinnon – B+

MacK was hunting and didn’t look tired at all on the back to back. The execution could have been a little better, but watching MacK steamroll Oesterle in the third was incredible. Another good face-off game from MacKinnon and he seems to just be going for power over technique.

Cale Makar -B

Makar looked exhausted at the end, and when you’re exhausted, you make mistakes and that’s what happened. The rest of the game, Makar was dynamic and looked close to breaking through, hitting the post in the first. He wired an absurd 16 shots towards the Coyotes net.

Valeri Nichushkin – F

Nuke drew a penalty in the second period, but a rough showing from him, particularly in the first, when he really struggled. The offense just has not been there for him in the bubble, and that’s been the issue most of his career.

Matt Nieto – A

No issues with Nieto in this one, as that line wore down the Coyotes. He had a great rush in the third period up the ice only to be stopped by Kuemper’s glove.

Mikko Rantanen – F

What is going on here? Fluke goal at the end aside, that was an ugly showing. He’s struggling to corral passes, and his passes aren’t nearly as crisp as we’re used to seeing. The power play flubs in the second period were ugly.

Nikita Zadorov – D

The Avs only gave up four-shot attempts with him on the ice, but everyone will look at that second goal on him. I look at is as more of a bad line change, but Z could have done a better job getting in the lane, that’s for sure. He’ll never get the benefit of the doubt from the refs, it appears, as Garland ripped the stick out of his hands about 10 seconds before that goal.