Avs Game 21 Grades - Huge 3rd Propels Avs

The Avalanche played arguably their best 3rd period in recent memory, controlling possession and outscoring the Winnipeg Jets 3-0, on their way to a huge 4-1 victory.

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

Francois Beauchemin (C) – He was absolutely awful for the first half of the game, with turnovers all over the ice, including one in the offensive zone that led to the Jets lone goal.  However, he turned it around and was a rock in the third period for his team.

Tyson Barrie (D) – Barrie had a rough night.  He was only on the ice for three shot attempts towards the Jets net at even strength.  However, one of them was the Duchene goal, that he helped spring.  Other than that, it was pretty ugly for Barrie.

Blake Comeau (B+) – A big night for Comeau.  He made a great rush up the ice on the game winning goal, and his speed backed off the defense, allowing him to feed Redmond, who was able to get the puck through to the net.  An empty net goal was just icing on the cake.

Matt Duchene (B) – I don’t think the top line even had a great game.  However, they still were the best possession line on the Avs, and Duchene’s goal was beautiful.  That’s the game breaker he has been most of his career, and he might not have had that chance if he wasn’t playing wing.

Dennis Everberg (C-) – Everberg was out there for the marathon shift in the first period that ended with almost 80 seconds of consecutive zone time for the Jets.  Beyond that, he played OK.

Brandon Gormley (B) – Another solid game for Gormley.  He had a tremendous breakout pass to Soderberg in the second period that led to the Avs best chance of the period.  His gap control is fantastic in the neutral zone, and he broke up a breakout pass in the third period that could have been dangerous otherwise.  He really uses his reach well.

Mikhail Grigorenko (C+) – His line was not great tonight.  However, he had some great zone entries on the Avs power play in the second period, and one of them resulted in Carl Soderberg‘s goal.  He has really stepped up lately.

Nick Holden (D) – Holden was physical tonight, but the fact is that he was stuck in his own end the majority of the game.  He did have a nice rush in the first period where he fed McLeod for a great chance.

Jarome Iginla (F) – A really ugly game for Iginla.  I counted three turnovers in the defensive zone, all of which led to extended zone time for the Jets.

Erik Johnson (B) – A nice game for EJ.  He was a tank in the third period and led quite a few breakouts tonight.

Gabriel Landeskog (B) – A slow start for Landeskog, but he was tremendous the last half of the game.  Made a great steal in the neutral zone in the third period and nearly scored on the ensuing 2 on 1, and was strong on the puck prior to Matt Duchene’s goal.

Nathan MacKinnon (C) – MacK didn’t have a great game tonight, and luckily, the rest of the team picked him up.  The line wasn’t at their best, and they still controlled most of the shot attempts when they were on the ice.  That’s how talented they are.

Andreas Martinsen (D) – A very quiet game for Martinsen.  The one thing he really has struggled with in the NHL is clearing the puck at the blueline in the defensive zone.  He’s too big to be soft there.

Cody McLeod (A) – McLeod has earned every second of ice time he’s gotten the last few games.  He was tremendous tonight, and while he didn’t get the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, he did get the game winning goal, which I’m sure he cares more about.

Zach Redmond (B+) – A really strong game from Redmond, who has played well since entering the lineup.  Do you think Nate Guenin makes that play on the game winning goal?  I sure don’t.

Jack Skille (C-) – Skille has really slowed down of late, and has been less and less noticeable.  He had a few nice clears on the PK tonight, though.

Carl Soderberg (A) – If McLeod wasn’t the Avs best forward, it was Soderberg.  His goal got the Avs going, and it showed that if you take the puck to the net, anything can happen.  Showed great effort to clear the puck before the empty net goal.

Semyon Varlamov (A) – The Avs were not great for the first two periods, but Varlamov was and kept them in it.  He made some top notch saves in the second period.

Chris Wagner (C) – A solid game for Wagner, and unlike last game, he actually did well in the faceoff circle, winning 4 of the 5 faceoffs he took.

The Avs return home to take on the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night.  The game starts at 7:30 PM MST.