Avs Game 18 Grades: Meet in the training room

Andrew Cogliano – C

You know the team is beat up and in rough shape when Cogliano is taking a shift with the team four on four. That would never even come close to happening with a full roster. Just doing his best to play above his ceiling until guys get back.

J.T. Compher – B+

Great play on the second Mikko goal to tap the puck over to him on a battle in front. He had a pretty solid night overall, but the clean face-off loss on the Canucks second goal stings a bit. Speaking of stinging, his leg is going to be sore after that massive block on the penalty kill late in the second period.

Pavel Francouz – C-

Got outdueled by Martin. The first goal was a tough way to start the game, but more of a defensive breakdown than anything. Also had a few turnovers with the puck, which is pretty rare for him, as he’s one of the better puck-handling goalies the Avs have had.

Sam Girard – C

Had good moments in the defensive zone but wasn’t himself with the puck. Just before the game-winning goal, he put a pass in Manson’s feet in the neutral zone that turned it over to the Canucks.

Dryden Hunt – C–

This team is down so bad right now with guys out that Hunt was on the second power play unit in the second period. This is a guy who missed wide-open nets in his Avs stint so far.

Erik Johnson – C

He didn’t like the penalty call, but it looked like a penalty to me, and it occurred because he turned the puck over behind his own net. Had a pretty low event night at even strength overall.

Martin Kaut – C+

A real workhorse shift in the first period, winning board battles multiple times for shot attempts, even hitting the post on his own. Also had a nice rush in the second. Poor decision to ring the puck back around in his own end led to Manson taking a penalty.

Artturi Lehkonen – B

Kind of hard to tell but it looked to me like he knocked the puck down out of the air on the first Rantanen goal before feeding it over to Toews. Did some heavy lifting in front of the net causing havoc on the second Mikko goal. He continues to rack up points.

Jacob MacDonald – B-

For an offensive defenseman, I come away unimpressed with him on the powerplay, as his decisions aren’t the best, but at even strength, I like a lot of what he can do, and his shot share numbers were really good.

Nathan MacKinnon – B–

He hit the over on his shots on goal on one shift alone in the second period, where he was just wiring pucks at the net on the powerplay. Were they the best shots? Maybe not, but it might have helped set up the Makar goal, because Martin definitely thought he was shooting.

Cale Makar – C+

I’m not sure he has much of a butt to stick out, and it certainly didn’t look like it to me on the weird penalty call in the third period that ultimately changed the game. Despite the goal, not the best effort defensively, although he did race back to make a big breakup in the second on a mini-breakaway. He caused a Canucks breakaway shorthanded in the first trying to force a pass to MacK.

Josh Manson – C

The penalties are starting to get out of control. I think we’re up to 10 minors in just 18 games, which is way too many. Avs managed to kill that one off, but he’s got to start eliminating some of those.

Jayson Megna – C

They had to use him in the four-on-four situation just to win a face-off because they were beat up so bad. The sad thing is, he succeeded, got off the ice, and the Avs just turned it over for the Canucks winning goal. He’s pretty bland but doesn’t necessarily kill you out there.

Alex Newhook – C+

It’s wild that even with losing Rodrigues in the second period, and Rantanen for a chunk of the game, he still was used pretty sparingly at even strength. Got some good chances on the powerplay in Rantanen’s spot, including one Martin snared with his glove.

Logan O’Connor – C+

Really solid first period, and then faded a bit after that. Had one penalty kill shift where he killed a good 20 seconds just by himself and outworking the Canucks.

Oskar Olausson – C

First NHL game didn’t go the way it was planned due to the injuries changing everything in terms of lines. Had one good push to the net in the second, but only other time he was very noticeable was when a Canucks player crushed him along the wall.

Mikko Rantanen – A

He’s always trying to get that goal where he chokes up on the stick, and succeeded on that early in the game before burying his second on a great shot just a few minutes later. Took a stick to the face for the second straight game, and this one appeared to do some real damage this time. Just continues to produce.

Evan Rodrigues – INC

It just never stops. Gets hurt on a seemingly innocent play where he and Miller’s skates just collide ever so slightly. A real shame, as he’s been a big part of the secondary scoring to start the year. Hopefully it’s not too bad.

Devon Toews – D+

Might be harsh, but when you look at the first three Vancouver goals, he was in and around the goal scorer. He had bad positioning on the second goal, where Horvat was just able to set up where he wanted too. He chased behind the net on the first one, although he and Makar need to communicate there, and he lost his guy in front on the third. Rough night beyond the great look on the opening Rantanen goal.