Avs Game 38 Grades: Close...but not really

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – B-

I liked Bellemare a good bit on the penalty kill tonight, as he had a good night there and won the majority of his face-offs. The fourth line wasn’t that good, as they had one really good shift that led to a goal and got pinned in a few times otherwise, but good forecheck by Bellemare on the Compher goal.

Andre Burakovsky – C

I really was not a huge fan of Burakovsky again, as he just doesn’t look completely there with the puck, but he did manage to pick up a nice goal and while his assist was a weird deflection, he made a nice pass to MacKinnon just moments before that. His turnover and lack of recovery on the second Wild goal wasn’t great.

Kyle Burroughs – B-

Rough first shift, where the Wild almost snuck one in amongst some chaos in front of the net. Didn’t play a ton, but had a real nice breakout in the second period after skating behind his own net. Everyone is going to remember the fight, however, when he threw some bombs on Bjugstad, who had no idea what he got himself into.

J.T. Compher – B

The goal was flukey, as it bounced off a Wild stick and then his into the net, but you take them after his start to the year. Liked him a good bit on the penalty kill, but also seems to be getting his nose dirtier these last few games. Got right in Cole’s face after he took the penalty for his hit on Jost.

Joonas Donskoi – B-

The third line was the one line that I felt had some legs in the first period, and that continued for most of the game. I thought he had one shot on net, a floater from the point, but apparently they counted it as a missed shot. Anything to keep that shooting percentage up.

Samuel Girard – A

Up to 30 points on the season, and in a shortened season, may hit a career-high in points. It’s probably insanely hard to hit Nathan MacKinnon, with speed, in stride for a breakaway, but he did just that to get the Avs going, and kept his legs moving all night long.

Ryan Graves – D

The defense was held together by two players tonight, as Graves looked slow on the opening goal, getting beat wide, and the penalty late in the game is just one you have to avoid. He had support coming back, so interfering with Spurgeon really wasn’t even necessary. If you do that in front of a ref, they’re probably going to call it.

Philipp Grubauer – C-

Gave up four goals, and one of his worst save percentage nights of the year, but nothing truly awful about any of the goals. He did seem a little scrambly in net, which you could see on the third Wild goal, where he was a little out of position.

Tyson Jost – B-

Had one of the Avs’ better chances in the first period, with a good wrist shot that created a rebound, and made a great curl and pass to Compher in the slot in the second period. Really liking him and Nuke on the penalty kill together, as they are just relentless.

Nazem Kadri – C

The constant trying to dance around every defenseman is getting a little frustrating, as he did it a few times tonight. He’s skilled enough to where it works for him occasionally, though. He keeps pumping shots at the net, but some of his best chances in the third hit Talbot straight on.

Gabriel Landeskog – B+

His goal was maybe the prettiest passing play of the season on the powerplay for the Avs, and he was the beneficiary of all that passing. His main role tonight seemed to be MacKinnon’s protector, as he wasn’t letting anyone touch the team’s star.

Jacob MacDonald – D+

The wild pinches were there tonight and a few defensive zone turnovers. You have to wonder if the coaches are getting a little tired of the high-wire act too, as his minutes have been cut dramatically.

Nathan MacKinnon – A

The Avs needed a goal to spark their team, and their superstar gave it to them. Jordan Greenway had no chance of keeping up with him at full speed.

Cale Makar – A

With Girard, he helped hold the blue line together most of the night, with another fantastic shot-share evening. The rush up the ice just prior to Saad’s goal was tremendous, and his domination of the Wild just continued.

Valeri Nichushkin – B

If I was an opposing player, I would simply stop trying to outskate this man. He’s not going to let you get past him. Fiala tried to get away from him at the offensive blue line late in the game, and Nuke just wasn’t going to let that happen.

Liam O’Brien – C

His one strong shift helped create a goal, so he gets credit for that, but you can’t be taking offensive zone penalties as a fourth-liner, and that one hurt. Barely played much.

Mikko Rantanen – A-

Had plenty of chances to bury some shots, but just couldn’t get it past Talbot, like his chance in front towards the end of the first period. Incredible pass to Landeskog for the winner. Weird that refs let so many cross-checks go against him, but he’s now getting called for them a good bit. Team leading six shots on net.

Brandon Saad – B

Well, he got away with one on his goal, but not his fault the refs didn’t call it. Certainly seems to be a streaky scorer. Great backcheck in the first period after the Avs got caught in a bit of chaos on a Wild rush.

Devon Toews – D

+3, another assist, and almost 30 minutes played, and yet…I thought he struggled most of the evening. The penalty in the first wasn’t a great one, even if it’s not always called by the refs, and just prior to the bad luck of a puck going in off him, he had a chance to clear but just couldn’t do much with it. He looked tired, but most would playing that much.