Avs Game 5 Grades: The Stars Strike

Andre Burakovsky – D

Started the game in the doghouse on the fourth line, and his play really didn’t help dig him out of it. Moreso, the performance of some other forwards got him moved up late in the game. Pretty pedestrian start to the year for him.

Bowen Byram – B

I love the confidence he’s playing with. There were some questionable plays in the second period, some of which he got bailed out on, but loved the rest of his game. The one thing he brings that the Avs desperately need is some attitude. Watching him in the scrums, he doesn’t back down from anyone, and there were some big guys trying to intimidate him.

J.T. Compher – B+

Saved a sure goal from Stamkos early in the game with a great stick, and played another strong game. He’s drawn quite a few penalties from the opposition to start the year, including another one tonight.

Samuel Girard – D

First of all, hated the hit on him in overtime, and hopefully there’s a call from the league to Stamkos after the Landeskog suspension. The Avs need him in the lineup. That being said…it’s been a pretty ugly start to the year for G. He’s usually very calm and smart with the puck, but has looked unusually rattled. Honestly a lot of it seems mental because he’s not playing like he normally does. Hopefully he can work out of it because EJ saved his bacon a few times tonight.

Darren Helm – B-

A great forechecking shift by him and O’Connor in the second period really helped calm things down a little more for the team. Liked his game overall, really felt like he was much better on the PK. Nearly had another goal off a great feed from Compher.

Erik Johnson – B+

That was a great defensive game from Johnson. He was there consistently for his partner when he made mistakes, and really helped settle things down. We joke about how much he slides on the ice but he’s honestly pretty damn good at it and more often than not breaks up plays with it like he didn’t tonight.

Jack Johnson – D

The third pair more or less didn’t leave their zone, as Johnson was only on the ice for a single shot attempt by the Avs. The staff does seem to favor him more than Murray in specialized situations, and that will matter when Toews comes back.

Tyson Jost – B-

Tyson Jost on the second line? Not a fan. Jost between O’Connor and Helm? Pure chaos and where he’s meant to be. Jost as a right winger on the second line didn’t last very long, and it shouldn’t have.

Nazem Kadri – B

I hate Kadri on the wall on the power play, as he more or less killed a powerplay with a terrible shot choice in the second period, but he’s battling really hard out there at both ends of the ice. Pleased with his start to the season.

Darcy Kuemper – B-

Trying not to make too much of this blocker thing, but it really does look like a weakness and got beat on both shots that went there in the shootout. But he was strong, for the most part, all night, and the reach back save in the third was great. The communication with the defense when he plays the puck still needs to get ironed out.

Gabriel Landeskog – A

Dirty work Landy was back at it again. He’s not listed as the center on that line, but we all know he really is. Great goal in front of the net, and a big hit along the wall helped spring the Rantanen goal. To cap it off, won the face-off on MacKinnon’s goal and kept the shootout going with a nice, smart shot. Solid game.

Nathan MacKinnon – A

Not his best night defensively at even strength, but two primary assists and a rocket of a shot in the third period for a three-point night. The powerplay was super up and down but those guys need to settle into a rhythm.

Cale Makar – B+

Slowly starting to get there. I was worried in the first that he was going to force things, as his first three shots on the night got blocked up high, but he kept going. Maybe move him up the shootout list.

Mikhail Maltsev – F

Pretty much the worst nightmare of a callup to play a large role in two goals against. The first one was just a clear lack of understanding the situation, as Byram and Makar had been on the ice a long time and needed to get off. Be smart, dump it in, and live to fight another day. The second one was an elite player taking his lunch money.

Jayson Megna – C

The only time I noticed him was when he tripped ass over ankles over the red line in the first period. I’ll take it.

Ryan Murray – D

After his best game, followed it up with another sub-par performance. Not sure why he’s trying to make a move around a guy behind his own net but Compher really bailed him out in the first.

Logan O’Connor – B+

Consistency from game one to game five already from LOC, and drew not one, but two penalties against Tampa Bay. Also had some great breakups at the defensive blue line.

Sampo Ranta – D

Another evening where the Avs get caved in with Ranta out there, and among the forwards who have played all games, he’s the lowest in terms of CF% by a good bit. Got one shift in the third and that was the Stamkos goal.

Mikko Rantanen – A-

Just keeps racking up points, and Mikko from MacKinnon on a two-on-one is almost automatic these days. I don’t think he stuck his leg out on the Joseph hit, although I get why Tampa was mad because they can’t see a replay immediately. More concerned about him being beaten up after that weird fall in the corner in the third period.