Avs Game 31 Grades - Powerless

The Colorado Avalanche were shutout for the 6th time this season, as they lost to the Minnesota Wild 2-0.

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

Tyson Barrie (D) – There were flashes of the old Barrie in the 2nd period, but like most of the year, it didn’t last long enough.  His work on the power play is really bad.  Teams do not fear his shot, so they take away the more dangerous options on the power play in MacKinnon and Rantanen.  They sit back further away from Barrie, giving them more time to block any of his attempts.  It’s too easy to stop.

Francois Beauchemin (D) – There were a few Beauchemin icings tonight, where he has time and space and instead just slaps the puck down the ice.  You’re seeing more and more of those.  Got caught a bit too high on the Wild PP goal and did nothing to get back in time.

Rene Bourque (C) – For a guy whose biggest issue the last few years has been effort, he sure is at least trying hard out there.  His effectiveness isn’t great, but he’s trying.

Joe Colborne (D) – This is your notice that Colborne played tonight.  If you watched, you might not have noticed.

Blake Comeau (D) – What he did to get on the top power play unit, we’ll never know, but he managed to turn the puck over on it several times, including one where he had to take a penalty of his own.

Matt Duchene (C+) – He’s putting the puck towards the net, which is a lot more than can be said about other people on this team, but he’s also had a few too many turnovers at the offensive blueline.

Cody Goloubef (C) – That was the most acceptable game he’s played in an Avs uniform, and I’m guessing a lot of it has to do with them playing him limited, sheltered minutes.

Mikhail Grigorenko (F) – Hope for Grigorenko is starting to disappear.  He got caught watching in the defensive zone when his defenseman shifted forward in the offensive zone on the second Wild goal, and with his lack of foot speed, he never had a chance of getting back.

Jarome Iginla (D) – No one wanted to see him get more even strength ice time, but it happened, and the results were predictably bad.  He got in the way of his linemates, and when he tried to stickhandle on the power play, it was painful to watch.

Gabriel Landeskog (C) – I think Landy knew what he was doing with that hit in the 3rd.  Zucker didn’t have the puck, but he was trying to get his team going.  He did well to get Zucker to at least even it up.  Sadly, it didn’t work.  More offense is needed from the Captain.

Nathan MacKinnon (C+) – I didn’t think there was anything wrong with MacK’s hit, but refs disagreed.  The only extended zone time the Avs had tonight was with MacK on the ice.

Cody McLeod (D) – Normally McLeod is on the other end of this, but that hit by Stewart sure looked a little high to me.

John Mitchell (D) – Mitchell was not on the ice for an offensive shot attempt in the first two periods.  He had a classic Mitchell moment in the 2nd period when he chose not to pass the puck, carried it through the NZ, fumbled it, and put everyone offside.

Mikko Rantanen (D) – Another game where Mikko just refuses to shoot.  He has less 1 or less shot attempts in 4 of his last 5 games at even strength.  He needs to learn to be more selfish.  Overall, he just looks too passive right now.

Carl Soderberg (C) – Soderberg has had a bit more jump of late, and did tonight.  I say it’s time to reunite him with Landeskog and get a line that might be able to cycle.

Semyon Varlamov (A) – How frustrated does Varly have to be right now?  Another game where he’s given literally zero goal support.  He played great, and was easily their best player.

Patrick Wiercioch (C) – Wiercioch is what he is.  A decent bottom pairing defenseman.  You’d like to see more offense from him, but he’s been a decent pickup for what he gets paid.

Fedor Tyutin (D) – It has now been two straight first period where Tyutin has been on the ice for zero shot attempts by the Avalanche.  His game has dipped since he missed a few with injury.

Nikita Zadorov (C+) – Avs fans should be excited about Zadorov.  His confidence with the puck is growing with each game.  He led the Avs in attempted shots at even strength tonight.  Tonight was a bit more up and down than the last few, but he’s one of the few bright spots on the team.  Also threw another big hit, this time on Chris Stewart.

The Avs return home to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.  The game starts at 7 PM MST.