Avs Game 43 Grades: Avert your eyes

Pierre Edouard Bellemare – C-

This was the type of game that Bellemare would work well in, as it was a grind it out battle, but he was relatively invisible, which isn’t really a bad thing for him. No shots on goal, no blocks, so he just existed in a game where a lot of guys did the same.

Andre Burakovsky – C+

I thought Burakovsky was making some poor decisions with the puck early in this game, passing when he should have shot, and really forcing some passes that he shouldn’t have. He was offsides by a little bit on the disallowed goal that nullified a nice play by him to hit the pinching defenseman.

Matt Calvert – C

Like Bellemare, a quiet game for him, but unlike Bellemare, he actually attempted a few shots on net in this one.

Ian Cole – C

There really wasn’t a ton to this one with Cole. He did do a nice job of getting some shots through in the second period, which led to a few rebound chances. He was stuck out there for a while on the goal against but as for the actual goal, not much he could do differently on this play.

J.T. Compher – C

Compher had a few chances in this game, and it felt like he could have taken a few more shots than he did. Bednar said the Avs passed up on some shots early, and he was a part of it. He drew a penalty but also took one of his own in the offensive zone.

Joonas Donskoi – D

Some real sloppy moments from him leaving the offensive zone in this game, and that led to him getting taken off the top line for the second straight game. He did have a nice rush in the third period up the ice from his own zone but that was about it for him.

Pavel Francouz – A-

The Avs did a good job of keeping things to the outside, which made Francouz’s job easier in this one. I didn’t like the only goal against at first glance, but it may have hit Graves on the way in. It’s not his fault the team couldn’t score a goal, though.

Samuel Girard – B-

The Avs top four was on the ice for a lot of attempts towards the Islanders net, but not a lot of actual shots on goal. Girard was evidence of that, with seven shot attempts, but only one actually getting on net at even strength. He didn’t quite have the same zip he’s had the last two games, but the Islanders played their system to a tee.

Ryan Graves – C

Like Girard, the Avs were on the ice for a lot of attempts for but not a ton of actual dangerous chances. Graves, however, did have two of the Avs better chances jumping into the play, but couldn’t beat Varlamov. He continues to just let it rip from the blue line, but none of his attempts from the blueline actually got through to the net tonight.

Erik Johnson – D+

The Islanders had the most shots on the Avs net with EJ on the ice, and some of his decision making in the third period was frustrating. He tried a few times to do it all himself, and it just wasn’t working against a well-structured team, so the puck would turn right back.

Nazem Kadri – C

Kadri sure does love that toe drag at the offensive blueline, and it put his team offsides a few times in this one. Still, he had some of the better chances in this one and seemed to be one of the few guys who would actually take the puck to the net, as most of the Avs chances came from too far out.

Tyson Jost – C-

I had issue with Jost missing the net last game, and on his one big chance in this one, he did the same thing, missing high and wide on the power play to the point that it rang out of the zone. He was another one who got stuck out there on the goal against.

Gabriel Landeskog – C+

Landy came probably the closest to getting one past Varlamov, but Varly’s big right toe stopped it right at the goal line late in the game. Beyond that, the top line did a lot of work on the outside and had trouble penetrating into the slot.

Nathan MacKinnon – C-

MacKinnon had seven shots on net, but not a lot of them seemed very dangerous, which is just what the Islanders do. He did, however, make a grave mistake, trying to pick off a pass in the neutral zone instead of sitting back, which caused the three on two and the only goal against.

Cale Makar – D

Makar looked really off his game in this one. He had one nice chance by faking a pass to MacKinnon on a late power play but didn’t get it on net. Even though it wasn’t his best game, seeing him fourth in even strength ice time in a game like this is a little frustrating. He’s a game-breaker and can make the difference. Ryan Graves shouldn’t play two minutes more than him at even strength.

Valeri Nichushkin – B-

Nichushkin missed last game, but looked good in this one, feeding Kadri for some of the better chances in this one, including a nice play in the second period where he drew a few defenders to him to hit Kadri on the wing.

Matt Nieto – C-

Nieto tried to forecheck on the only goal against after a long shift but was stuck out there while a few guys changed. Like a lot of nights with Nieto, you won’t notice him a ton and that was the case in this one.

Mikko Rantanen – D

You’re telling me in 16+ minutes of even strength ice time, Mikko didn’t attempt a single shot on net? That’s a little frustrating coming off a hat trick. He did take a skate up high late but returned.

Nikita Zadorov – C+

Z looks beat down a little bit. He’s not had confidence offensively this year and had a nice goal called back in this one. When they interviewed him in the intermission, he looked down. He was only on the ice for six shots on net by the Islanders and managed to draw a penalty, but for the last two games, he has been far and away the low man in time on ice on defense. Considering three weeks ago he was on the top pair, that’s a big drop.