Avs Game 58 Grades: Battle Back

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – D

I didn’t like Bellemare in this one. Felt like his defensive assignments were a little off. He got lucky on one shift in the first period where he lost his man completely, but the Lightning player couldn’t handle the puck. Lost a battle behind the net just before the Lightning broke out for their third goal.

Andre Burakovsky – D+

This might seem a little rough because he scored early, but Burakovsky really struggled with the puck tonight. Lots of failed plays on passes, including a few icings, and even just ate it out of nowhere on the power play. Burakovsky was the guy down low defensively on the first Lightning goal and he just kind of…drifted off.

Ian Cole – C+

Cole got bumped up to the second pairing towards the end of the second period, which was strange because his failed clear went straight to Gaunce for the second goal. I didn’t have much of an issue with him for most of this one.

J.T. Compher – D

Unfortunately, Compher, once again, had the worst shot metrics on the team. He’s punching above his weight class right now. I did like him driving hard to the net in the third but also thought it was pretty clearly goalie interference. What was up with that drop pass at the end of the second period?

Joonas Donskoi – D

I feel like far too often the last 25 games or so we’re just not noticing Donskoi. I expected this to come based on his entire career but this is a tough time for it to happen.

Pavel Francouz – D

Bednar really wasn’t happy with the second goal. I didn’t like the third and how he just lost the puck. The OT goal is an elite player coming in at full speed. Sometimes you get beat. Frankie has gotten some chances to step up and be the number one and has slipped a bit.

Samuel Girard – C+

Sammy and EJ got stuck out there way too long just before the Lightning’s opening goal, but they got no help from the forwards once the puck was in the defensive zone. Sam does so much breaking the puck out, but some of his decisions in the offensive zone still leave a bit to be desired. His shots get blocked way too easily.

Ryan Graves – B

His penalty was an awful call, there’s no other way around it. I liked his game tonight, but I wish he didn’t feel the need to wind up for a slapshot every time. There was one pass he got where he took too long to unload it and it let the goalie get set.

Erik Johnson – D

I don’t know why EJ was trying to go coast to coast just prior to the second goal, but he pretty easily was not able to get through four Lightning players, and the play got turned around the other way. He was demoted in the third and didn’t play a ton in the final 25 minutes.

Vladislav Kamenev – C

I thought Kammy had some good moments where he battled down low, but not a ton came out of it with him. With all these injuries, he is going to get a chance to show a little bit more.

Tyson Jost – C+

Jost cannot buy a goal to save his life, but it sure looked like he was onside when he stole a puck at the offensive blueline in the third. Moments later, he drew a penalty that gave the Avs a chance to take the lead late in the game.

Gabriel Landeskog – C-

Landy is just not all there, but at least in this one, he was able to step up and produce. Made a nice play on the MacKinnon goal to draw some guys to him and leave it to MacK to finish it off. Tonight accounted for 15% of his season assist total…

Nathan MacKinnon – B+

The OT goal was a brutal turnover, but let’s be honest, MacK was the heartbeat offensively for this team tonight. I’m getting a little sick of him drifting to the point too often for shots from far out, but boy did I love the reverse hit on Palat. MacK’s got a nasty side to him.

Cale Makar – C+

It was nice to see Makar get a point late, but he was certainly a little off tonight. Only two of his six attempts hit the net. I do have to say that I love the staff feeding him ice time. He’s your most talented defenseman, let him eat.

Valeri Nichushkin – D

I thought Nuke had a brutal game. He lost a ton of puck battles in the defensive zone along the boards, including the Lightning’s second goal, and just didn’t seem to have it. But…he put his big body in front of the net and tipped in the game-tying goal, so he gets some credit there.

Matt Nieto – C

Nieto on the ice in OT is a perfect sign of where this team is right now with the injuries. He had a good chance in the third to tie it up but was stopped by the goal stick.

Mikko Rantanen – INC

Mikko looked back, including a vintage saucer pass on the opening goal. But his season may now be in jeopardy because of a tough-looking injury in the second period. He’s out for “weeks”, according to coach Bednar.

T.J. Tynan – D

I get rewarding your best AHL player, but he’s an AHL player for a reason. He got outmuscled a lot tonight, and the Lightning was very physical on him. Didn’t look super comfortable because of it.

Nikita Zadorov – D

Like EJ, didn’t play much the last half of the game. Got caught behind the net on the Lightning’s third goal and couldn’t stop Stamkos in time.