Avs Game 27 Grades: Finding a groove

Andrew Cogliano – B-

Big block late in the third on Ristolainen and had a nice cut to the middle for a shot in the second that he just couldn’t bury. Keeps getting good looks.

J.T. Compher – A

I really hated that late shot at the empty net, but great game before that. The zone entry and dish to Toews was perfect and the goal was really nice after catching the puck with his skate. Nice night in the face-off circle outside of those two clean losses after his icing.

Andreas Englund – B-

This second callup has been much better. Plays within himself and even had a nice exit in the third where he beat three forecheckers to create an easy exit for the forwards.

Jean-Luc Foudy – B+

Super close to that first point but can’t seem to find it. Great looks to Rantanen and MacDonald in the second and a nice drive to the net in the third. It’ll come if he keeps playing like this.

Pavel Francouz – B

Quiet two periods for him, but stepped up when needed in the third, with two big saves on backdoor passes by the Flyers. Rebound control still an issue. Interesting to see him get two straight starts…

Sam Girard – B

I do think we’re starting to get a little more swagger back from G with the puck on his stick. He’s spinning a heck of a lot more at the offensive blue line. Maybe it’s a little much at times, but a sign that he might have some confidence in his game right now.

Charles Hudon – C+

Had a heck of a look in the third period with a nice move to get to the slot but shot it right into Sandstrom’s chest. Another pretty solid game otherwise.

Brad Hunt – B–

Had some nice, safe exits in the third to help out EJ a few times when he was in trouble. He’s been a bit more dependable than MacDonald was, so no surprise that they’ve stuck with the switch.

Dryden Hunt – INC

Had a decent look to Newhook in the slot and then quite literally disappeared from the game.

Erik Johnson – A

Big game and some big step ups at the defensive blue line. One of them created the shorthanded goal for Lehkonen, and a few others in the third denied clear entries for the Flyers.

Artturi Lehkonen – A

He loves that quick shot through the five hole, and it worked for him against Sandstrom. Great look to Compher on the game-winner as well. Had some nice clears on the PK in the third period.

Jacob MacDonald – INC

He’s just existing at the moment and missed his one clean look at the net by a good bit, it looked like.

Cale Makar – B-

A solid game, but does feel like it’s been a minute since we saw a Makar takeover game. They didn’t need it tonight, but do think they could use a bit more from him on the PP without MacKinnon.

Ben Meyers – B-

Was watching him on face-offs and he looks zoned in on that linesman’s hand when he’s ready to drop the puck. It’s working because he’s doing quite well for himself there. Drew a penalty in the second with his skating. Hoping to see a bit more from him offensively but the defense has been an issue so don’t mind him focusing on that a bit.

Alex Newhook – C

Not quite sure what he was doing on the first Flyers goal, as he was just kind of standing around doing a whole lot of nothing. Last game he started on the fourth line but still saw plenty of ice time. This game wasn’t quite the same.

Valeri Nichushkin – B-

Avs dominated with him out there but still some issues with the puck. Tried to force some passes on the power play that weren’t there, and killed a rush in the third with a bad pass on a 3 on 2.

Logan O’Connor – B–

Real nice play on the Toews goal to tie up his man along the wall and just out-battle him. Great stick with the net empty to kill a lot of the momentum the Flyers were building.

Mikko Rantanen – B-

Lots of good looks with him on the ice, but felt like it could have been a lot more. Had some plays on odd-man rushes where he made some risky passes that didn’t connect and turned things around for the Flyers. Avs didn’t need his offense though, which was nice.

Devon Toews – B–

Probably not where he was looking to clear the puck on the first Flyers goal but made up for it with a goal of his own. That one was a long time coming, as he’s been jumping in on the weak side with rushes the last few weeks and hasn’t been able to buy one.