Avs Game 50 Grades: Afternoon slop-fest

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – F

The type of game that might get you in the press box. The fourth line was bad, in general, but two penalties, one of which was at an awful time after the second Bruins goal and another one in the offensive zone, is not the way to find the ice.

Andre Burakovsky – F

This is frustrating. Zero shots on goal, only one shot attempt, soft plays all over the ice. Avs have held it together with his struggles and he’s managed to pick up assists here and there, but this cannot keep up.

J.T. Compher – C-

One of the few guys who showed a little bit of fight early on, even if there wasn’t much offense coming from it. One of the few who wasn’t on the ice for any goals against.

Samuel Girard – D

Most of the first period, they had Girard with Makar. The two of them created some chances offensively, but in the defensive zone, it was another story, getting stuck for longer stretches and being out there for the first goal against.

Darren Helm – D

Helm has not played center consistently in a long time and not sure he should again after this game. Was a part of the trio that got stuck out there for an extended period of time with the Bruins first goal.

Erik Johnson – C-

Some physical play, which is good, but a lot of it came when the game was out of hand. Didn’t love his play with the puck, however, as had some turnovers in the first period in his own end.

Jack Johnson – F

The kind of game that makes you a little leery of him being a lock to play in the playoffs. He’s earned that right so far, but when he struggles like he did against Boston, you gain some concern. Failed clears, getting caught up high on the third goal, just some big mistakes that cost the team.

Tyson Jost – C-

Created a nice chance bulldozing his way in and taking the puck from Bergeron in the first period, but couldn’t finish, which is the story of his career. Drew another penalty, which is one thing he’s really good at.

Nazem Kadri – F

A game where Kadri doesn’t even register a single shot on net is rare, especially this year when he’s been so good. Bednar said it himself in the post-game that the top line was okay, but that they didn’t get much of anything else from the other nine forwards. That was true, unfortunately.

Darcy Kuemper – C

I had to give him a blah grade because of five goals against, but Kuemper held the Avs in it as long as he could for them to wake up. They never really did.

Gabriel Landeskog – D

The only line that was able to sustain anything offensively, even if it wasn’t much. They can’t carry the load every night. The penalty call against him was a bit of a joke, with Pastrnak’s own stick hitting his face. You could tell he wanted to go with McAvoy late in the game, but in a blowout, just not worth it.

Kurtis MacDermid – F

An icing that ends up in the back of the net just a few moments later. This came just after MacKinnon had made it 2-1. The kind of stuff you worry about with him. Also had some tough pinches at the offensive blue line that didn’t end up in the back of the net, but were just poor reads.

Nathan MacKinnon – D

Offensively, he was fine. Scored the only goal and created some sustained pressure at times. Defensively, I didn’t like his play at all. They were soft and it cost them in the second period. Got lucky at the end of the first when he turned it over on a failed clear and Kuemper had to bail him out.

Cale Makar – F

Ugly game defensively, and on his first shift, you could tell it wasn’t going to be his night, as he made a brutal pass to Toews and then fumbled a few of his other passes. It happens.

Alex Newhook – D

Didn’t win a single face-off he took and didn’t register a single shot on net. Had a few shot attempts coming through the neutral zone with speed, but he’s had a tough time getting those on net, as they were either blocked or missed the net completely. They’re sticking with him at center, which is nice.

Valeri Nichushkin – C-

Didn’t dislike him as much as a lot of the other secondary players, but still not a great game. Had a nice rush in the third period where he curled it around the defender for a shot attempt, and then moments later, turned it over trying to force a pass.

Logan O’Connor – F

Ugly shift in the first, with multiple chances to clear the puck and couldn’t do so, leading to the first Boston goal. Actually was happy to see him rough it up late in the game, as maybe he needs that to get going.

Mikko Rantanen – F

The biggest zero from the big guns, as he was a complete ghost at even strength, only getting a few chances on the power play. Didn’t register a single shot on net at even strength and really the only time I noticed him was when he was cross-checking Mike Reilly after Reilly took the puck from him.

Devon Toews – C-

A sloppier game than normal, but nothing terribly egregious. Unlike most of the other defensemen, he didn’t have any trouble getting his shots through to the net, but the problem is a lot of the Avs offense was shots from the blue line, so it just wasn’t dangerous enough.