Avs Game 21 Grades: Fun one in Buffalo

Anton Blidh – D

The fourth line has not been hurting the team of late, but that was not the case against Buffalo. Out there for a goal against and then taking a penalty late when he got bumped up the lineup. Not what you need.

Andrew Cogliano – B

Perfectly executed rush for the second Compher goal. Drove the middle, passed it off, and then crashed the net to take a guy. Was visibly frustrated after the 5-on-3 goal against because they got close to killing it.

J.T. Compher – A+

A four-point game from Compher is remarkably rare, and the second goal was a real nice shot. But 21 face-off wins in a game is something else. Compher never played for Buffalo, but probably means something to him playing against the team that drafted him.

Jean-Luc Foudy – C

Great look to Newhook early, but he fumbled the pass. Loved seeing his feistiness in the second period. Unfortunately, the penalties basically took him out of the game.

Alex Galchenyuk – D

Barely played, and certainly was not noticeable in the shifts he got. A scorer who hasn’t attempted a shot in his two games.

Alexandar Georgiev – D

Got burned badly over-committing on the first two goals, although the first one was certainly poor defense by MacDonald. The first shot you see in the third period being a breakaway is tough, but Avs goalies and the poke check don’t seem to work well.

Sam Girard – C

A little better showing, and amidst all the goal-scoring chaos, he wasn’t really involved at either end. I miss the flair of Girard from a few years ago. Feels like it’s been a while since we saw the offense shine.

Dryden Hunt – C-

He was out there a fair bit and very little happened, but you’ll take that over his linemates who spent time in the box.

Erik Johnson – C+

A good job of getting the puck through from the point when it would come to him. Had a huge block on the 5 on 3 but unfortunately the Sabres were relentless. Had another nice block on a pass across just prior to the Thompson goal. As is tradition, spent a lot of time sliding on the PK.

Artturi Lehkonen – A-

Had a great PK shift early where he shadowed Olafsson and didn’t let him get any shots off, deflecting passes that were headed his way. Rewarded with a goal after his hustle forced Okposo to make a bad clear. He’s quietly nearly a point per game, which is wild.

Jacob MacDonald – D

It was a quick two on one, so tough to react, but not sure you can play one any more poorly than MacDonald did in the first. He backed in deep and gave up the pass far too easily.

Nathan MacKinnon – A+

Both of his shots were pinpoint perfection, and you just wonder if this is going to be one of those months where he scores a billion after very little has gone in for him to date. Involved in every goal except one.

Cale Makar – B

Crazy keep in on the Lehkonen goal where he won’t even pick up an assist. Great rush up the ice and feed to MacKinnon for his second. You can’t contain that speed, and it forces defenders to back off.

Josh Manson – C

Another game, another penalty. Beyond that, he was solid and like EJ, had some blocks on the 5 on 3 that they nearly killed off.

Jayson Megna – F

Getting burned on a goal and taking a penalty is a lot of action in five minutes, and not in a good way.

Alex Newhook – C

Completely flubbed his best look of the night early in the game, but got a fair bit of shifts with the top line after penalty kills. Didn’t do much with it but a confidence booster. He and Galchenyuk have shown no chemistry.

Logan O’Connor – B

If he had better hands, he’d be a top-six forward. Had some really great looks in the second period but could not bury anything. Great on the penalty kill as well. His penalty was hilarious for how obviously he tackled the Sabres player.

Mikko Rantanen – C

This was a real Mikko night, where he was invisible most of the night, especially at even strength with no shot attempts, but picks up two points and leaves town with a win. Did show off his size and strength a few times.

Devon Toews – D

The play by the Sabres coming out of the intermission was perfect and tough to defend but got burned by it. The penalty that caused the 5 on 3 was an optics call but when you already know you’re going shorthanded, can’t be doing something like that, especially when your team just got a two-man advantage.