Avs Game 36 Grades: Blown leads are not fun

Pierre Edouard Bellemare – B-

That line was the Avs most consistent from start to finish on both ends of the ice, however, Bellemare got a little lost on the game-winning goal. If you watch him, he goes to chase the same guy that Girard was already on, and has to turn around and find someone. The other forward down low, which would have been his man, ended up putting it in the back of the net.

Andre Burakovsky – D

I feel like we’ve had to say a lot of late that Burakovsky has been very quiet. He’s flashed with some nice goals, but the overall process has not been great. That second line was just not good at all in this one, and Burky in the defensive zone can be an adventure at times.

Matt Calvert – A

You can’t stop Calvert, you only hope to contain him. Those two goals were typical Calvert, with the first one being him just jamming the puck right through Lehner’s legs on his own rebound, and the second one not giving up on the play, and just making a smart move whipping it back in front of the net.

Ian Cole – C

I thought that third pair was solid most of the night. They got into some trouble in the second period at times, but so did most of the team. They were on the ice for the game-tying goal, but the fact is, the forwards were the biggest problem on that goal, not either of the defensemen.

J.T. Compher – F

Boy, it really feels like Compher is headed for a night in the press box. He was taken off the power play completely and got beat back into the zone on the game-tying goal, just one game after a poor decision by him contributed to the game-winner. He barely played at even strength in this one.

Joonas Donskoi – C-

Donskoi was the best of the second line, but still not great. He did well to create some plays at least and picked up the assist on the Graves goal.

Samuel Girard – C+

Yeah, he’s not great on the power play, and he’s no threat to shoot at all, but I thought Girard was fine in this one. If you look at the goals he was on the ice for by the Blackhawks, is he to blame? The forwards were the biggest problem on all of those. That pair was the only one with positive possession numbers on the night.

Ryan Graves – B-

Another two points for Graves in this one, but he was super high event, on the ice for 43 shot attempts overall in 18 minutes of even-strength time. I like the activation offensively but there were a lot of scoring chances against him out there. Gave up the line with ease on Kane’s goal, which is something he exposes a lot.

Philipp Grubauer – C

People are going to hate on Grubi and there does seem to be a lot of folks wanting to get Franky more starts, but Grubi held the Avs in this one when they just forgot how to play in the second period, especially on the PK. Still, you want your goaltender to make a save when things are falling apart and Grubi did not do that.

Erik Johnson – B-

I didn’t have any major issues with EJ’s game tonight, and it’s pretty telling the staff was quick to put EJ out there late with the net empty over Girard. His shot is at least somewhat of a weapon there.

Nazem Kadri – F

The Avs just need more from Kadri at even strength right now. It hasn’t been there for the most part since he’s come back from injury, and he needs to be doing a lot more. To be honest, pucks are dying on his stick, and if you watch him in the neutral zone on the game-tying goal tonight, he was just sort of lost in no man’s land doing nothing.

Tyson Jost – B

Jost in the top six has not been noticeable, but for some reason, he’s done much better in the bottom six creating. I don’t think he’s a top-six player, so maybe roles really do matter. He picked up his first two points in December tonight. Jost, however, has not picked up a point against a team other than Chicago since November 9th against Columbus.

Gabriel Landeskog – D

The two wingers on the top line just were not good enough defensively in this one. Both of them just got caught watching the guy in the high slot on the game-winner. I loved the physical play and fight to try to get the team motivated through a sleepy second period but there’s more to give defensively.

Anton Lindholm – C

Lindholm has been just fine through his three games. He was out for a goal against tonight, but that was more on the forwards tracking back. It’s really hard to complain about his play. He’s a limited player but he’s holding his own.

Nathan MacKinnon – D

MacKinnon was held in check a little bit last game, and to be honest, it was more of the same tonight after the first period. Considering how dominant the top line was after the first period in shot metrics, to see them just end up even in this one is disappointing, and the defensive game just wasn’t there.

Valeri Nichushkin – B-

Really smart play by Nuke on the Calvert second goal to just tie up his man and let Calvert get to the puck. I did not like Nuke passing up some shots in the third period, looking to hit Calvert for the hat trick goal.

Matt Nieto – C

Nieto was solid in this one, and had some chances to bury some goals but couldn’t come through. Almost had a nice chance in the third as he moved around a defenseman but put the puck too far ahead of him.

Mikko Rantanen – F

Mikko was just too soft in his own end on this one, and his brutal turnover is what led to the first goal by Chicago. He stared down MacKinnon and Toews took it away. Like I mentioned with Landy, he also got caught watching a Blackhawks forward in the high slot sit all alone on the game-winner.

Nikita Zadorov – C+

The only time Kane was able to do any damage was off a Mikko turnover and when Z was not on the ice. I question why Z wasn’t out there after a TV timeout when Kane was able to get some room and score. That’s an iffy decision there. Like I mentioned with Sam, Z was a minus two but that pair was the only positive shot differential pairing on the defense. I still can’t even see if the puck went in before or after Z and Grubi collided on the game-winner. Z kept Kane pretty quiet most of the night.