Avs Game 46 Grades: Easy road win

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – B-

Didn’t love the fourth line for two periods. They got stuck in their own end a lot and didn’t really get any extended offensive zone time. NAK in particular struggled with some zone exits. In the third, that changed, as he had a two on one after creating a turnover, and then the goal that basically finished the game. It was a soft goal, but you take them.

Andre Burakovsky – C

My man needs a goal. That’s really all there is to it. He’s still picking up assists here and there but looks to have no mojo. He had an easy deflection at one point in the third all alone in front and just missed it. Then he looked to the sky in frustration.

J.T. Compher – C+

Good night on the penalty kill, and even though I think the call on Benn was soft, Compher did a good job selling it by crashing the net.

Samuel Girard – B-

When he’s on his off-side, he is getting beat more to the outside than you would really want. Hintz beat him wide in the second and Kuemper bailed him out. Lots of shot attempts but not a lot getting through, and passed up a good shot early in the game on a 3 on 2. Still a lot to like about his puck movement, and spun a Stars forechecker into the wall in the third.

Darren Helm – C

Not as noticeable as last game, but did make a great play at the defensive blue line by standing up the Stars defenseman rather than biting on his move. It created a turnover and a zone exit.

Erik Johnson – C+

Strong on the penalty kill, and solid enough at even strength. Liked the confidence and patience on one breakout in the second period to spin away from a few forecheckers and break it out.

Jack Johnson – B-

It’s a strong JJ game if I can go through an entire night and not really notice him. Lots of smart plays to just get out of jams. When he plays a simplified game, he’s just fine.

Tyson Jost – C

Like his linemates, pretty quiet for most of the game. He got a few shifts in the top nine to pump up his shot share numbers but didn’t produce anything in terms of shot attempts himself.

Nazem Kadri – B

Made a beautiful move to avoid a hit and create an odd-man rush in the first period, then a few minutes later escaped the defense in front to pick up his 20th goal and set a career-high in points. What a season and still plenty left.

Darcy Kuemper – A

Tough chances were kept to a minimum for him, with Hintz getting all the high-end chances in front, but he was there for all of them. Really becoming a steady presence and settling in behind the Avs blue line.

Gabriel Landeskog – A

Another perfect deflection to get things started, and the empty netter to finish things off. Maybe he should have gotten a penalty before the empty netter…but he didn’t. Top line put on a clinic in terms of puck control most of the game.

Kurtis MacDermid – B

Saw people say Benn was running away from MacDermid. That’s not what I saw. Looked like he wanted to fight MacDermid, and Mac realized it wasn’t the time. Smart play by him to recognize there’s a time and a place to fight, and it’s not right after your team scores a few goals and has the momentum.

Nathan MacKinnon – A

Never take him for granted. He’s just that good and just jumps back in like he missed no time.

Cale Makar – A

What a specimen. Goal scoring has slowed down a good bit, but everything else has not. Love seeing him on the penalty kill, and the stutter step to leave his defender in the dust just prior to the Kadri goal was a thing of beauty.

Alex Newhook – C+

Love seeing him shoot more, and seeing him back at center, but nothing got through to the net. Not sure those linemates are ideal for him to read what he’s doing. At one point, he made a quick short pass to Compher instead of dumping it in, and Compher was not ready for it. Had some good defensive moments in the first.

Valeri Nichushkin – A

Such a Nuke assist to fall over, manage to keep the puck in, and just be big enough to hold off another player to keep the play alive. Great game from him in the spot he was drafted, and some big moments on the penalty kill.

Logan O’Connor – B-

Still not much happening offensively at even strength, but a lot to like with the rest of his play. Got a big shorthanded rush in the second period where it looked like he hit the crossbar.

Mikko Rantanen – B+

Probably the quietest of the big line guys, but also had the most dominant shot share numbers. Just a solid night with the top line controlling the puck everywhere.

Devon Toews – A

Some great breakups with his stick at even strength and on the penalty kill, and was really strong all over the ice. It’s a miracle that the Avs were able to keep him under 23 minutes as well. That’s a rarity for him.