Avs Game 56 Grades: Slipped away

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – C-

Bellemare had a decent game at even strength, but the penalty kill got annihilated and he was out there for both of the goals against.

Andre Burakovsky – B

Another two points for Burakovsky, including a great shot to get the game started right. He looked good on the top line, but for some reason, wasn’t out there late with them when the Caps scored the game-winning goal. He, unfortunately, did take the penalty that allowed the Caps to tie it.

Matt Calvert – C

Much like Bellemare, Calvert was out there for the two power play goals by the Caps. He had a breakaway early in the game but was stopped by Holtby as he tried to go five-hole.

Ian Cole – C-

I liked Cole in the offensive zone again. He was pinching in and doing a lot right offensively, but he struggled in the defensive zone. He let Wilson get behind him and had to take a penalty because of it, and got caught looking over at Ovechkin on the first power play goal by Washington.

J.T. Compher – F

The second line got beat down. Compher looked good in the previous game, but had a rough one against Washington, attempting zero shots on goal and centering the least effective line on the team.

Joonas Donskoi – F

Donskoi has, unfortunately, taken a lot of stick penalties this season, and took another one last night. At least this one wasn’t in the offensive zone.

Samuel Girard – C+

The top line got stuck out there a long time because of an icing on the game-winner, and took the minus on that one, although I’m not sure he did much. He had some good moments in the offensive zone in this one, getting his shots through to the net for the most part.

Ryan Graves – B-

Didn’t really have much of an issue with Graves on this one. He got his shots through to the net and played a quiet game at even strength. The PK was an issue for everyone involved.

Philipp Grubauer – A-

Let’s just say this game was not on Grubauer. He played great, and didn’t get a whole lot of help, especially in the third period. Made some tremendous saves in this one, including a nice stick save on Ovechkin early.

Erik Johnson – D

Johnson blocked a ton of shots in this one, and was very high event, but took a pretty clear high sticking penalty in his own zone in the second and didn’t do much to get Oshie out of the way on the game-winning goal.

Vladislav Kamenev – C+

Really smart play to flip the puck up high for MacKinnon to get under on the first Avs goal, but I thought his game slipped as it went along. He was having issues with the puck in the third period and didn’t do a whole lot.

Tyson Jost – D

I’m not sure Jost really deserved the penalty he got in the second period, but it turned the game around. Zero shot attempts from him at all and just an overall uneventful game from him.

Gabriel Landeskog – F

Just a rough game from Landy. He was getting worked on the point in the defensive zone and couldn’t get in the way of the game-winning shot from the point. He had the worst shot metrics on the team, and with Kadri out, needs to be better carrying that second line.

Nathan MacKinnon – B

MacK went to town in this one for about two periods before slowing down in the third. He did ice the puck on the game-winning goal but seemed to do it because he slipped down. Great play on the opening goal and picked up the primary assist on Mikko’s goal as well.

Cale Makar – B-

Probably the Avs best defenseman in this one, and the Caps tried their best to get in his head but he didn’t seem affected by it. Made a great rush on the power play in the second period that nearly ended in perfection.

Valeri Nichushkin – B-

The Avs should really be using Nichushkin more on the penalty kill. He’s been really good on it all year when given a chance and given the struggles last night, the fact that he got zero seconds on the PK is ridiculous.

Matt Nieto – C

Nieto had great shot metrics in this one, but generated nothing on his own, which indicates he was more of a passenger than anything. Quiet game overall.

Mikko Rantanen – B+

Mikko might be back, folks. A great move and shot on his goal and looked engaged overall. He also went a ridiculous 10/11 in the face-off circle. Who knew?

Nikita Zadorov – D

I didn’t have much of an issue with Z defensively, but with the puck, thought he really struggled in this one. It was pretty low event with him out there.