Avs Game 25 Grades: Putting on a clinic

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – B-

The penalty called on him was a horrendous call, there’s no other way about it. It was just an incidental collision, nothing more, and nearly changed the game. Beyond that, he had a strong game overall but did blow another chance in the slot.

Andre Burakovsky – A-

Burky was wheeling and dealing tonight. Beyond getting bailed out by some bad ice on what should have been a breakaway against, he had a tremendous game. Certainly some moments where I wish he would have shot more, but his linemates combined for 13 attempts, so there’s only so much to go around.

Matt Calvert – B-

I know he didn’t like the penalty called against him, but I thought it was legit. He ended up getting it back, though, by drawing one in front of the Kings net. He and O’Connor on the same line look like a nightmare to play against.

Joonas Donskoi – B

His total unwillingness to shoot the puck aside, that was one of his more engaged games in a while. I really am starting to get annoyed by his lack of shooting, because he can clearly score goals, but loved his work on the cycle and really seemed to be moving his feet.

Samuel Girard – A

His shot metrics this game were just insane, at +36/-6. I don’t know what more needs to be said about that. He must have learned the slide from EJ in front late that he probably should have gotten a penalty on.

Ryan Graves – C

I said it in the first, but he can’t put together a consistent game. He was a nightmare in the first, then his first shift in the second period he goes for a big hit, misses, and leads to an odd-man rush the other way. He finally got moving in the offensive zone and helped create the goal, then played real solid defensively in the third.

Philipp Grubauer – A

Second straight game the Avs have made sure he’s awake in the third period with a breakaway against, and he was up to the task. Beyond that, he didn’t have to do a lot, but that’s the dream as a goalie.

Tyson Jost – B

The penalty was bad, but aside from that, really felt like he made his mark on the forecheck and on the penalty kill. He still can’t score, but he and Nichushkin together create havoc on the forecheck. He didn’t step up last game, but really did tonight and makes it hard to put JTC there again.

Nazem Kadri – A

One day he will score again at even strength, and it will be glorious, but his shot attempts the past week have been just outrageous and feels like he starting to use his linemates a lot more. Loved that line overall.

Gabriel Landeskog – B+

Total whiff on a great chance in front in the second period, but another really strong game. He said a while back he wasn’t happy with his game, but it’s evened out big time over the last week or so. Great screen on Rantanen’s goal.

Jacob MacDonald – A-

Maybe he’s the beneficiary of playing with Girard, but his shot share numbers continue to be outrageous. He’s not been great at creating a shooting lane for himself, but if you had told me a month ago he’d be playing 20+ minutes a night on a team dominating the opposition, I’d have called you crazy.

Nathan MacKinnon – B+

I think he was frustrated in the first period by the Kings defense swarming him, but after that, he picked it up big time. Great backcheck in the first period to defend a rush. He made Doughty look silly in the second on the pay Landy whiffed on.

Valeri Nichushkin – A

Another monstrous performance from Nuke, with perhaps his best moments coming on the penalty kill in the second period, where he had the two best chances. Not sure what’s gotten into him the last week, but hope this Nuke sticks around a while.

Logan O’Connor – B

Never take this guy out of the lineup again. His penalty-killing work has been tremendous, and tonight, he was pretty sure-handed on the breakout and helped alleviate pressure.

Greg Pateryn – C

His lack of speed nearly burned the Avs in the first period, but settled in after that and barely noticed him.

Mikko Rantanen – A

He could have taken the Western division scoring lead, but no, he had to be a nice guy and give MacK a goal. 10 shot attempts overall from him, and the huge goal to really take some pressure off the Avs.

Dan Renouf – B-

I consider it a success if I do not notice him in an entire game, and I did not tonight, other than his fight, which seemed a little pointless.

Brandon Saad – B+

Continues to just do every little thing imaginable to help this team win at both ends of the ice. He seemed to be the one guy struggling with the puck at times in the first period, but once in the zone, planted himself in front a good bit.

Devon Toews – A-

Other than the breakaway against in the third period, another tremendous game. Just a great stick, including breaking up a cross-ice pass in the third on the penalty kill. He also just continues to rack up points left and right.