Avs Game 29 Grades - Power Play Loses Another Game

The Avalanche, with a 2-1 lead, had multiple power plays to add another goal, including a long 5 on 3, but were not able to capitalize and gave up 3 unanswered goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins, losing the game 4-2.

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

Tyson Barrie (D) – Tonight was one of those games where Barrie tries to do way too much, particularly with the puck in the defensive zone.  He holds onto it too long and gets himself in trouble thinking he can get past all the forecheckers.  He was the worst possession defenseman on the Avs tonight.

Francois Beauchemin (B) – Beauchemin has been making some real good reads in the neutral zone the last two games, picking off a few passes.  For the most part, he was very quiet tonight, which isn’t a bad thing.

Reto Berra (B-) – Berra held the team in this game for as long as he could in the second period, which was spent mostly in the Avs end.  The one he probably would prefer to have played better was the Penguins second goal, but I think Holden did a terrible job defending it.

Blake Comeau (C) – Comeau was very physical tonight, but his turnover in the offensive zone led to the Penguins tying goal, which started the Avs collapse.

Matt Duchene (C) – Duchene stayed red hot with an early goal, but wasn’t able to put another shot on goal the rest of the night.  After the first period, Duchene and MacKinnon had issues gathering speed in the neutral zone.

Brandon Gormley (C) – Gormley was bad in the first period.  Really bad.  He was turning the puck over consistently, and one of them helped lead to the Penguins first goal.  He was also great in the second period, making some nice breakouts and even had one shift where he made two nice plays to keep the puck in at the point.  It’s easy to forget he’s still young and doesn’t have a full NHL season under his belt.

Mikhail Grigorenko (B) – Made a really fantastic bank pass off the boards to spring MacKinnon before Duchene’s goal.  His next shift, he got stuck out on the ice too long and turned it over a few times, leading Roy to demote him to the 4th line, which was an over reaction, in my opinion.  Once he was on the 4th line, they had several shifts where they pinned the Penguins in their own end.

Nate Guenin (C+) – Guenin actually made some nice plays at the offensive blueline in the second period, and was solid for the most part.  He did have a horrendous turnover on the PK in the second, where he panicked and tried to clear the puck when he had plenty of time to make a safe play.

Nick Holden (F) – Young defenders, please do not watch Nick Holden on the second Penguins goal.  That’s not how you defend five feet in front of your net.  Instead of using his long reach, he hit the deck to try to block a shot, which Bennett easily avoided and scored.  He then got caught up ice after missing the net on a shot for the Penguins fourth goal.

Jarome Iginla (F) – At what point do you take him off the point on the power play?  If it was up to me, it would have been a long time ago.  It hasn’t worked since game 2 of the season.  He’s a liability defensively at even strength, and his mistakes on the power play are obvious as well.

Erik Johnson (B+) – The only player on the Avs with positive possession numbers this evening.  EJ showed how unstoppable he is with that rush in the first period where he scored.  If it was up to me, he’d replace Iginla on the power play.

Nathan MacKinnon (C) – Like Duchene, he had trouble getting speed through the neutral zone after the first period.  He also got pummeled in the faceoff circle, losing 9 of the 11 he took.

Andreas Martinsen (F) – Sorry, Patrick.  I just don’t see what you see in this guy.  He’s way too easy to knock off the puck for his size, and loses too many stick battles.  He’s a complete liability defensively, especially on the point.

Cody McLeod (D) – McLeod shouldn’t have been on the 3rd line in the first place, but Roy put him there and nothing came of it.  The game winning goal was scored by Maatta, who should have been McLeod’s guy off the faceoff.

John Mitchell (D) – He lost the faceoff prior to the game winning goal, and had several turnovers tonight just trying to skate through people.

Jack Skille (B) – The 4th line was the most consistent line all night for the team.  I really liked Skille’s power move to take it to the net in the second period.

Carl Soderberg (B) – That’s now two games in a row where he’s made a beautiful pass to set up a goal.  I worry the Avs are wasting his offensive skill by having his second winger be a glorified grinder most nights.

Alex Tanguay (F) – The veteran looks slow and weak most nights.  Some nights, he can create a nice chance or two, but tonight was not that night.

Chris Wagner (B+) – He won 6 of the 7 faceoffs he took, and destroyed Plotnikov in the third period.  His energy and speed kept the puck alive a lot for that line.

The Avs head to Nashville to take on the Predators on Saturday evening.  The game starts at 6 PM MST.