Avs Game 16 Grades - Possession Game Improving

After a slow start, the Avs dominated the Boston Bruins and came back to win the game 3-2.  The Avalanche controlled nearly 58% of the shot attempts at even strength.

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

Tyson Barrie (B) – It was not a great game for Tyson Barrie offensively.  He was fumbling the puck a lot and his passes were off, especially on the power play.  However, credit where credit is due: Barrie’s last two games may have been the two best defensive games he’s played in the NHL.  His stick in the defensive zone was tremendous again tonight and he stopped a few cycles because of it.

Francois Beauchemin (B) – Like Barrie, he was fumbling the puck a lot in the early going of the game, but he calmed down as the night went on, and was a rock defensively for the team, playing an absurd 28 minutes.

Reto Berra (B+) – Berra didn’t have much of a chance on either goal.  I think the first goal was questionable, as there was contact made and Berra didn’t have much of an opportunity to get up, but unlike in past years, the early goals did not rattle Berra.  He was a rock after those goals and shut the door.

Blake Comeau (A) – Tonight might have been Comeau’s best game in an Avs uniform.  He was hard on the puck, and his speed created the first goal, in which he gave Soderberg a beautiful feed.  This is the Comeau you hope to see more often than not.

Matt Duchene (A-) – Duchene was a monster in the faceoff circle, winning 80% of them, none of which were any bigger than the faceoff at the end of the first period that led to Beauchemin’s goal.  He’s shooting the puck a lot more of late, and not trying to do too much with the puck.  The slow start is long gone.  The only reason it’s not an A is because that line did not very well possession wise, particularly early.

Brandon Gormley (B-) – I didn’t like Gormley early in the game.  He was too timid and missing too many passes.  About halfway through the second period, his game picked up a lot more.  His passes were much better and he was trying to join the rush.  He made a great play in the third period against two forecheckers, by taking a hit and just poking it to an Avs forward for an easy breakout.  His gap control was really strong this evening, and he used his long stick to his advantage.

Mikhail Grigorenko (B-) – He really did not play a lot tonight, not even hitting 7 minutes total, but he made one of the biggest plays of the night, drawing Zdeno Chara to him and then giving Matt Duchene a perfect feed for the game winner.  If Landeskog is suspended for any longer, it will be interesting to see if he plays on that top line.

Nate Guenin (B-) – For Nate Guenin, that was a solid game.  He even made some nice plays behind the net with the puck in the second period.  Most importantly, he wasn’t a liability, and managed to be a 50% possession player.

Nick Holden (B-) – Holden was way too much of a passenger on the Bruins first goal.  He let the Bruins forward go the net too easily, and then when the puck went to the point, didn’t do anything to clear them out.  After that, he had a solid game, and I don’t recall hearing his name too much, which is a good thing.

Jarome Iginla (B+) – A really heads up play by Iginla led to the first goal, as he saw Comeau had the Bruins defender beat and he just shot it down the ice for him to get it first.  That line was the Avs best possession line all night long.

Erik Johnson (B+) – Johnson looks like he’s finally healthy, as his skating is significantly better than it was 10 games ago.  His defensive work tonight was top notch, as he stopped more than a few one on one rushes with ease.

Gabriel Landeskog (F) – Maybe I’m being too harsh on him, but before his hit, he wasn’t very good, and he has to know better than to make the hit that he did.  Even if I don’t think the hit is suspension worthy (initial point of contact looks to be shoulder), Landeskog has to know better and cannot put his team in a tough spot like he did.

Nathan MacKinnon (D) – That might have been MacKinnon’s worst game of the season.  His passes were off, especially on the power play, and he didn’t look very quick out there.  He also missed an empty net in the second period that could have given the Avs a lead.  It’s good news that the Avs were able to win without him playing his best.

Andreas Martinsen (C+) – I don’t think his game was as good tonight as it was in his first game, but he’s doing the things that Everberg did last year and hasn’t been doing consistently this year.  He’s been strong on the boards and on the cycle.  The offensive zone penalty that he took in the first period really hurt his team and he can’t be doing that.

Cody McLeod (B) – A solid game for McLeod tonight.  He was physical, and for once, one of his fights didn’t turn out to be completely useless, as the Avs seemed to have more energy after it.

John Mitchell (B) – It was nice to get Mitchell back, and he almost scored a beautiful goal in the first period.  Roy trusts him a lot defensively, even if he uses him a bit too much at times, specifically on the power play.

Jack Skille (B) – A good, albeit quiet night for Skille out there.  He registered 4 hits in just under 10 minutes of ice time, and was a 65% possession player.

Carl Soderberg (A-) – Soderberg had a bit of a screw up on the first goal.  He was trying to do the right thing and clear it out, but it hit Patrice Bergeron and led to an easy goal for Boston.  Luckily, he made up for it himself, with a laser shot into the top right corner to get the Avs back in the game, and his line was great.  Soderberg was the Avs best possession player on the evening.

Ben Street (B) – It was a bit of a surprise, to me, to see Street get the nod over Dennis Everberg, but he did his part, and made a great play on the forecheck for the game winner, even if he wasn’t credited with an assist.

The Avs continue their road trip on Saturday night as they take on the Montreal Canadiens.  The game starts at 5 PM MST.