Avs Game 16 Grades: Sloppy play continues

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – D+

The fourth line had a pretty horrendous shift to start the game and didn’t really spend any extended time in the offensive zone. They get some kudos for I guess not being on the ice for a goal against.

Andre Burakovsky – B+

Probably one of Burky’s better games in a long time, even though he didn’t pick up a point. The move down the lineup seemed to spark him a little bit, as he was moving his feet and skating with the puck all night long. Avs desperately need more offense from him, as he was their wildcard last year.

Bowen Byram – F

Harsh perhaps, but everything seemed to go wrong for Byram tonight. A three-on-one is tough to defend, but the penalty in the neutral zone was poor and losing that battle on the shorthanded goal, which was a killer, just isn’t good enough. He got caught backing in way too much and covering pretty much nothing on the Hartman goal as well. It’s a tough spot for him to learn on the go on a team with high expectations.

Matt Calvert – D

The limitations were on display with Calvert moving into the top six, as the offense just isn’t going to be there from him on a night-to-night basis. Effort is never an issue, but not a spot you want him in every night.

J.T. Compher – A

I could tell this morning he was going to have a good game, and he followed through. It was obvious he was moving better from the drop of the puck. The goal was nice, but Compher is actually the guy who started it all behind his own net. Hopefully a game that he can build off of.

Joonas Donskoi – D

Donny actually was decent the first half of the game, including a beautiful backhand pass to Kadri, who went in all alone to hit the post. His game, however, fell apart after that, and he got benched after some questionable effort on the Wild second goal. A giveaway leading to a two on one in the third wasn’t much better.

Samuel Girard – C-

Girard looked tired to me, making mistakes that a tired player makes, particularly floating over on the breakaway goal and leaving the entire center of the ice open for Sturm to skate through. Great play on the Compher goal, though.

Ryan Graves – C+

Kind of wild but on the entire defense, I thought Graves was probably the most solid. Not saying much in this game, but he had some good reads in the neutral zone that led to the Avs gaining the offensive zone.

Philipp Grubauer – D

It was bound to happen, but tonight was a tough one for Grubi, and now we’re going to see how he responds. This is a workload he’s not used to, and he’s almost certainly going to get a night off this weekend, so hopefully, that can refresh things for him.

Tyson Jost – D+

Fourth line just wasn’t good tonight and didn’t really notice Jost do much in the offensive zone, which is kind of where things are at right now. Still solid on the penalty kill.

Nazem Kadri – D

Great shot on his goal, but much like last game, had a chance wide open in the slot to potentially turn the tide of the game at the start of the second period, and he hit the post on this one. I did not like him going for a big hit behind the net on Brodin just prior to the Wild’s second goal, and he put Timmins in a real tough spot on the first goal with a soft pass.

Gabriel Landeskog – C

Not perfect at all, but of all the top-line guys, I liked Landy the most in this one, as he was the only one willing to dump the puck in and go get it. The Avs were too stubborn in that part of the game most of the night.

Nathan MacKinnon – D

Shot metrics were great but was only on the ice for two high danger chances at even strength, and it seemed like far too often he was drifting out towards the point to try to get open and shoot. That’s just not a dangerous spot, and kind of shows how the Wild were frustrating that line a bit.

Cale Makar – D

Makar, to me, looked dead tired in this one. His game goes as his skating goes, and with the Avs only playing five defensemen a good chunk of the night, the heavy minutes seemed to wear him down. Everything culminated at the end of the game when he lost the puck in the offensive zone just prior to the Wild getting a breakaway goal.

Valeri Nichushkin – A

Far and away Nuke’s best and most noticeable game of the year. He was a monster on the forecheck, including one shift early in the game where he forced three turnovers in the offensive zone. Great work on the penalty kill to draw a penalty and even things up. Hopefully something to build on.

Logan O’Connor – F

I expected energy after being out of the lineup a few games. I didn’t notice him at all, other than icing the puck in the second period because of a bad pass and missing a pass in the first, which led to another icing.

Mikko Rantanen – F

A mess from start to finish, and it seemed like when he did get a high danger chance, including one in the slot in the first period, he missed the net.

Conor Timmins – F

I would not be surprised if Timmins gets a night in the press box on Friday, as he was benched for most of this game. A poor pinch on the first goal, and a turnover in his own end on the second goal. Some time in the press box to refresh wouldn’t hurt.

Devon Toews – D+

Like Girard and Makar, seemed worn down from the heavy minutes. Loved him jumping into the rush on the Compher goal and leading things.