Avs Game 17 Grades - Grigorenko Shines

The Avalanche were stuck in their own end a lot tonight, but the chances they did get were high quality and they took advantage of them, leading to a 6-1 route of the Montreal Canadiens.

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

Tyson Barrie (B-) – The possession numbers were not good tonight for Barrie, like most of his team, but I thought he did a good job keeping plays to the outside in the defensive zone.

Francois Beauchemin (C) – It’s strange.  Beauchemin was a +4 tonight, but I don’t think he played very well.  He missed a few passes this evening that led to icings, let the puck get past him a few times on the power play, and got caught watching a little too much defensively.  His PK work was really good and helped the team tonight.

Reto Berra (A) – How different could this game have been if Berra didn’t rob Pacioretty early in the game?  He kicked out his left leg and kept the Avs in it until they could get some chances offensively.  This year’s Berra looks like night and day to the one that started off terribly with the Avs.  He’s calm and composed in net, and his team is responding well to it.

Blake Comeau (B-) – Comeau was strong on the PK tonight, and even if his possession game was lacking, he was solid.  He played a lot tonight, and his shorthanded goal stopped the Canadiens from coming back, as they didn’t look nearly the same afterwards.

Matt Duchene (A) – There’s no way they’re trading this guy, right?  Other than MacKinnon, he’s the only gamebreaker the team has, and they look dynamite together.  Three more points tonight for Duchene, including a goal with blood dripping down his face.

Dennis Everberg (C-) – The Everberg of last year seems long gone, at least at even strength.  He’s not forechecking like an animal, and he’s not been physical enough.  He does, however, look really good on the PK, with some key clears and shot blocks tonight.

Brandon Gormley (C-) – The Gormley/Guenin pairing was stuck in their own end a lot tonight, and Gormley took a step back after a few solid games.  He’s a better puck mover than he’s shown so far.

Mikhail Grigorenko (A) – Talk about taking advantage of your opportunity, huh?  Grigorenko got the team going tonight with the first goal, and then assisted on both of Nathan MacKinnon‘s first period goals.  He worked well with Duchene and MacKinnon, and gives the team options moving forward, when they get their Captain back.

Nate Guenin (F) – Guenin was a disaster tonight.  He turned the puck over multiple times, and instead of trying to actually get the puck in the defensive zone, just sat and stared at the Canadiens forwards, letting them cycle the puck consistently against his pairing.

Nick Holden (B) – It needs to be said that Nick Holden is having a pretty solid start to the season.  He’s been more assertive physically, and has held his own defensively.  He didn’t have good possession numbers tonight, but I liked his game.

Jarome Iginla (D) – I didn’t like his game tonight.  He missed the net a few times on his chances on the power play, and he wasn’t moving his feet defensively.  He’s been solid the last few games, but tonight was not his night.

Erik Johnson (B) – For my money, he was the Avs best defenseman tonight, which should be the case most nights.  He was good defensively and moving the puck to the forwards well.

Nathan MacKinnon (A) – The guy is a superstar already.  Those two shots in the first period were top notch, and very few NHL players can make those.  Patrick Roy said after the game that MacKinnon works well with someone who works the give and go, and that’s Grigorenko.

Andreas Martinsen (C) – I actually didn’t even notice him all that much tonight, which might be a good thing, but he made a smart play in the third to put it on net, crash for the rebound, and make a sweet pass to Mitchell for an easy goal.

Cody McLeod (B) – McLeod had another solid game where his skating was not exposed.  His PK work tonight was really strong.

John Mitchell (B) – Mitchell can be a frustrating player at times, but there’s no denying that he is a valuable player on the Avs, because he can fill a lot of roles.  He was the Avs best possession forward at even strength.

Jack Skille (B) – Solid on the penalty kill, and his speed created a breakaway chance in the first period, and he was even able to get to the rebound as well.  Great pickup for the 4th line.

Carl Soderberg (B) – I just love the way Soderberg plays with the puck.  He’s patient with it, and he would rather hold onto it it then give the puck away to the other team.  I really like when he reverses the puck to his defense rather than dumping it out of the zone and giving away possession.  He did that a few times tonight.

Ben Street (F) – Yikes.  Street got exposed tonight, and was the main culprit on Montreal’s only goal.  He iced the puck instead of getting it to the red line, then lost the subsequent faceoff and didn’t bother to cover anyone.  It’s too bad Landeskog’s suspension means he can’t go back to the AHL and help San Antonio.

The Avs continue their road trip when they head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.  The game starts at 5:30 MST.