Avs Game 11 Grades: That's more like it

Andre Burakovsky – B-

Waited too long to get a shot off on an odd-man rush in the third but at least he chose to shoot it instead of forcing a pass. Liked a lot of his defensive work tonight, and he and Kadri showed some good chemistry.

Bowen Byram – INC

He was on his way to a whale of a game just based on the first 17 minutes, but now we’re left holding our breath for good news tomorrow on another potential head injury for Byram. Just stinks because he looks so confident on the ice.

J.T. Compher – B-

Another goal on the powerplay, as he’s just racking those up right now. Great forecheck on the Landeskog goal. While his linemates were still getting on the ice, he forechecked three Canucks defenders to keep the puck in the zone. Didn’t love that line most of the night but they got it done.

Samuel Girard – A

Well, that was more like the Girard we’ve come to know and love. Constantly moving on the ice and not giving the opposition a chance to even forecheck him. Hopefully that’s the game that springboards him after a pretty rough first 10 games.

Darren Helm – B

Another goal that started with him in the defensive zone breaking up a pass. The fourth line was honestly awesome all night long. The penalties just have to be cleaned up though.

Erik Johnson – B+

Just steadiness. Has done a really nice job standing guys up at the blue line on the penalty kill when they try to enter the zone, and not getting beat on those reads. He knows his job on this defense is to be physical and he’s doing that.

Jack Johnson – B-

I don’t mind penalties like his boarding one, because that’s why the staff is playing him over Murray. He needs to be physical and occasionally that will happen. Had a great play in the first on the penalty kill to steal the puck behind the net for a clear. Another reason why the staff chose him over Murray.

Tyson Jost – B

Even though he wasn’t playing with Nichushkin, it almost felt like the guy we saw most of last year. Tenacious on the forecheck, with endless amounts of energy. His puck possession just prior to LOC’s goal was tremendous.

Nazem Kadri – A

I know Compher is picking up a lot of the big goals, but Kadri has been the MVP of the forward group because he’s been doing it at even strength. More shot generation and strong defensive play.

Darcy Kuemper – B

God, he must have been so bored. Even when Vancouver got some chances, it never really felt dangerous.

Gabriel Landeskog – B

Another game-winning goal for the Captain, as he passes some other Swedish guy in the franchise hierarchy on that stat. He actually was lowest among forwards in shot metrics, but no one cares about that in a blowout.

Cale Makar – B-

His skating was still there, as he was escaping forecheckers with ease, including Tanner Pearson nearly eating it trying to chase him down in the second period. The rest of his game with the hands still looks a little off, but just have to hope that comes with time.

Jayson Megna – A

Did I just give Megna an A?!? Why yes I did. Thought he was a beast at both ends all night. Drew the penalty early on, and that line just created a ton of energy. Had some great plays defensively as well.

Alex Newhook – B

Loved his start, and looked like he had the puck more in the first 10 minutes than he did all preseason. Great assist and a nice forecheck helped out on the LOC goal. Didn’t really create anything offensively and no shot attempts but made some simple, smart plays.

Valeri Nichushkin – B+

Happy to have him back, and scored a goal crashing the net on the powerplay, pretty much the reason he’s out there. In classic Nuke fashion, he was super low event. Had a great play at the offensive blue line in the second period and nearly fed Toews for a goal.

Logan O’Connor – A

The contract that just looked like it was going to be good value just kind of keeps looking better and better as the days go on here. He’s a shot generation machine and is showing a bit more offense than we thought he might have had. He and Jost looked good together, but he’s looked good with pretty much everyone so far.

Mikko Rantanen – B+

No hesitation on his shot and goal in the first, which I love because you don’t let the goalie get set for the shot. A super low-key three-point night from him, which is nice, because I thought he did some nice things in his return against Columbus.

Kiefer Sherwood – B

I don’t know what he did that pissed Poolman off so much, but that sure seemed to get a response. Love the energy on that shift, though, in a blowout game in the third period. A guy like Sherwood needs to provide that energy at all times to stay in the lineup.

Devon Toews – B

Actually felt like he was a little sloppy with the puck for the first half of the game, which is uncharacteristic of him, but settled down big time later and had nice combinations with Girard on a few goals in the second period.