Avs Game 46 Grades: "Dogshit"

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – C

The fourth line did some decent things and drew a few penalties, but Bellemare was one of the guys on the ice for the first goal against. He was not the problem on that goal, though.

Andre Burakovsky – D

Took way too long to release a few of his shots. Had some pucks come to him, including one in the slot, and took a second too long to corral it and got it blocked, killing a chance. Story of the night.

J.T. Compher – D

His best shifts in the game came when he got moved to the fourth line at the end. Not the best thing to say.

Samuel Girard – F

Arguably the worst game of the year from Girard, with turnovers and poor decisions. First shift of the game, he turned it over behind his own net to avoid a hit. Killed an offensive zone shift with a pass to no one in the corner. Not his night.

Ryan Graves – F

6’5″ but playing like he’s much smaller than that. Not sure what he was doing so high in the zone on the first Blues goal, but the soft play and turnover on the third Blues goal might have been worse.

Jonas Johansson – D

Actually made some decent saves, with his first real chance being a mini breakaway, but four goals on 20 shots isn’t going to get it done.

Tyson Jost – C-

Continues to work hard, and that line was the only good thing going at even strength but lost the face-off on the Blues’ first goal and stick was in poor positioning to let the pass get through.

Nazem Kadri – F

Not sure it matters who his linemates are at the moment, because they aren’t getting used much. Seemed to have some extra burst late in the game, but the Avs really need him to work out of this funk.

Martin Kaut – D

Underwhelming is one way to put it right now. Really thought with more ice time and a bigger role, he’d show more, but it wasn’t there. Still like that he’s trying to make some plays holding onto it, but an offensive zone penalty won’t help his case.

Gabriel Landeskog – F

Great pass on the MacK goal, but ugly game all around and tried to skate through the entire defense multiple times. Against a team that swarms like the Blues, that won’t work

Nathan MacKinnon – F

Don’t care that he scored, his body language in the first period was horrendous and set a tone. The turnover on the Blues’ second goal, coupled with him just standing there isn’t what you want to see from a leader. Then lost the puck on the powerplay at the end of the first and sulked. Not a good night.

Cale Makar – F

On the ice for all the even-strength goals against, and got caught trying to jump into the play a little too early a few times.

Patrik Nemeth – F

It did not get any better against the Blues. Bednar said after the game he’s rusty, and I hope that’s the excuse, because it’s ugly. Turnovers, running into his own teammates, just a lot of issues already.

Valeri Nichushkin – C

Hard work and good forechecking, but no offense overall. In this game, unfortunately, that’s more than could be said for most.

Liam O’Brien – D

Drew a few penalties, but not sure what purpose he serves in a game like this if he isn’t trying to start something. Isn’t that why he is in the lineup?

Kiefer Sherwood – B

Had the best and most scoring chances on the team. Maybe that says more about the rest of the squad than him, but liked the energy he played with. Also fed Kadri for a nice chance late.

Carl Soderberg – C-

No points yet, but I haven’t hated the way he’s played. My concern would be how he’s going to be used when healthy. The plan cannot be to have him in the top six when this team is healthy.

Conor Timmins – C

More good play in jumping into the play, and making plays in the offensive zone. Just in general skating much better. The turnovers crept in a little bit more tonight than you would want to see.

Devon Toews – D

His best moment of the game was directing everyone on the ice and then launching it into his own bench. A moment of fun in a brutal game.