Avs Game 24 Grades: Just Breathe

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – C-

It was interesting watching Bellemare talk to the linesmen tonight. He had a good night in the face-off circle but seemed to be constantly frustrated with the linesmen, talking to them at the end of the second and before the third period even started. I wonder if there’s a level of frustration with Bellemare, who had another nice chance from the slot that missed the net by a good bit.

Andre Burakovsky – B

Just a terrific pass on the Saad goal, rather than forcing the puck to Kadri, used his vision to find Saad coming in late. I was not a huge fan of him on the power play tonight overall, however, and not registering a shot at all stings badly, especially when he’s in the shooter position on that unit. Was not on the ice for a single Coyotes shot on goal.

Matt Calvert – B-

Nearly scored a highlight-reel goal in the second period when he went around a few Coyotes defensemen for a chance, but like everyone else, was stopped by Raanta. He and O’Connor on the same line is a lot of speed.

Joonas Donskoi – C

Some really good zone entries for Donskoi and a great forecheck at one point in the third period that led to a great chance for Nichushkin. Unfortunately another night where he doesn’t register a shot on goal.

Samuel Girard – C+

Nearly 30 minutes of ice time, and picked up an overtime assist, but struggled a lot with the puck tonight. A turnover in the first led to an odd-man rush early, and just some general flubs that we’re not used to seeing from him. It could be some fatigue, or it could just be an off night. Even then, an off night from G is still a great night for most defensemen. After all, in nearly 20 minutes of 5 on 5 ice, the Coyotes only registered TWO shots on goal.

Ryan Graves – B-

10 shot attempts, almost all from the same spot, without a ton of danger to them. It’s a nightly thing, and it’s annoying. The flubbed shot late that led to a breakaway was brutal, but beyond that, he played a solid game defensively.

Philipp Grubauer – B+

I have to imagine he was bored to death most of that game, but credit to him, because the two big chances he faced in the third period were breakaways, and he was up to the task.

Tyson Jost – C-

Felt like this was a big chance for him to step up and take over that 3C spot, but it didn’t happen. That was the one line that really didn’t generate a ton offensively. He’s trying to do the right thing on the goal, so that was more bad luck. Another good PK night, including drawing a penalty because of a nice pass breakup. No shots on goal.

Nazem Kadri – B

It didn’t feel like overall his best performance, and yet, that line dominated the puck. He was in a different role on the powerplay, on the half wall of the second unit, and I’m not sure how much I love it as he’s not a huge puck distributor.

Gabriel Landeskog – A

Feels like the first time in a long time that Gabe has beaten a goalie cleanly, so nice to see. The goals are starting to come a little more frequently, and he was shooting a ton tonight. Every single shot he took was on goal. Classic Man Rocket.

Jacob MacDonald – B-

MacDonald was a mess in the first, with some turnovers in his own end and just wild pinches. After that, he really calmed down and the Avs dominated with him on the ice.

Nathan MacKinnon – A

No points, but it didn’t matter. He is the team’s engine, and he came out angry, cross-checking Dvorak right off the opening face-off. I guess his wrists needed some work after a week off, with 17 shot attempts.

Valeri Nichushkin – B

Great on the forecheck again and had some good chances that he just couldn’t bury. The rush in overtime was the most Nuke play ever. Blows by everyone on the ice and just loses the puck in all alone. That’s a total bummer. Got absolutely robbed by Raanta late in the third.

Logan O’Connor – B+

Love everything about his play right now, and just don’t see how you take him out. His work on one particular penalty kill in the third killed about 20 seconds of time just by hard work.

Greg Pateryn – D

The shift for the only Coyotes goal was just a mess for him and Renouf, but him missing the hip check so badly really kind of led to the chaos. Kind of crazy that in a 1-1 tie, the coach can’t even trust putting him out there for more than two minutes in the final 22 minutes of the game.

Mikko Rantanen – B

The weakest of the top-line guys, but not bad by any means. There are only so many shots to go around when your linemates combine for 17. He got slew-footed at one point in the second and looked uncomfortable at times later, so hopefully nothing big.

Dan Renouf – D

Didn’t notice him much, and then on the Coyotes’ goal shift, really noticed him for all the wrong reasons. He threw a Coyotes player on top of his own goalie, which is terrifying considering the backup situation, and just got caught running around.

Brandon Saad – A

Nine even-strength goals to lead the team, and great work defensively. He drew a penalty in the second period just by back-checking and working Schmaltz off the puck and taking it from him. He was the one that fed Nichushkin for the great chance late.

Devon Toews – A

Just a machine, and uses so little effort. Reminding me a lot of Ryan Suter with just smart pinches and great reads to conserve energy and effort. The chip up to Burky on the opening goal was perfect.