Avs Game 60 Grades: Revenge

Nicholas Aube-Kubel – C+

Another quiet affair for Aube-Kubel, although you could see him battling along the walls all game. The 11 forward thing actually worked out for him because he got a few more shifts than he has of late with a better option at center.

Andre Burakovsky – B-

The second line got stuck in their own end quite a bit, but when they were in the offensive zone, I liked a lot of what they were doing with short, quick passes. He had a good chance in front in the second period and led the team in even-strength shot attempts. Big blocked shot in the third period.

J.T. Compher – B-

Had a rough first shift with an errant pass that led to a rush for the Flames, but settled down after that. The third line was low event compared to every other line and generally did a good job of keeping the puck down away from their own end.

Darren Helm – B-

Well, I really liked his game outside of the penalty in the second period, but a penalty 200 feet away from your own net in a one-goal game is never a good thing. Big hit in the first period behind the Flames net.

Erik Johnson – C

When the Flames started to pick up the physical play in the second and third, EJ was there to respond a bit. I got concerned when Lucic looked like he was going to burn EJ wide in the first period but EJ did a good job recovering.

Jack Johnson – C+

Took a big hit from Tkachuk behind his own net early but that seemed to get him into the game. Played a nice, physical game, but boy is he just a non-factor past center ice.

Tyson Jost – B

Did a nice job to draw a penalty on Zadorov in the first, something he’s good at, and had a nice look in the second on a wrap-around that Vladar got over on.

Nazem Kadri – B

Was a creating machine in the second period offensively, as he and Newhook displayed some nice chemistry together when Kadri hit him with a behind-the-back pass for a good look. Did spend quite a bit of time stuck in his own end, though.

Darcy Kuemper – A

Didn’t feel like the Flames kicked it into heavy gear offensively until the third period, with lots of perimeter shots throughout the night, but he was ready when called upon and made some great saves. The glove on Tkachuk late was nice, and to me, it looked like he got his stick on Andersson’s shot halfway through the second.

Kurtis MacDermid – B-

I don’t think he blocked the shot by Andersson, as I mentioned above, but his 6’7′ frame made him wait it out a bit more than he probably wanted to. Played physical and didn’t do anything too bad with the puck.

Nathan MacKinnon – A

Kind of a no-look shot on his first goal, which had to have thrown off Vladar from that distance, but it was a perfect release, and the second goal was as quick as you can get a shot off. Came close to a hat trick on a one-timer in the third but Vladar got his shoulder on it.

Cale Makar – C

Super high event and stuck out there more than he probably wanted to be in the defensive zone, but just enough to get by. He seems to be in Tkachuk’s head, drawing a penalty on him in the second period. Quite like him on the PK.

Ryan Murray – B

Other than getting completely walked by Gaudreau in the second period for a chance, played a real solid game and led the Avs defenders in shot share.

Alex Newhook – B-

Nice chances in the second period that didn’t go, but the wing position got him smacked around a bit, including a massive hit in the first period. Was nice to see him fight back, though, as he roughed up Mangiapane in front of the Avs net in the third.

Valeri Nichushkin -B-

Top line provided all the offense, and Nuke had chances of his own off feeds from MacKinnon but couldn’t bury anything. Another solid outing on the PK.

Logan O’Connor – B-

Had a bit more offense following up a solid performance the other night but still cannot bury anything. The penalty at the end of the game was pretty hilarious but would have been annoying in a closer game.

Mikko Rantanen – B+

The shift in the first with him centering the fourth line was his best shift in weeks, as he was dominant and got off 2-3 good shots. He had an ugly turnover at the end of the first but played well beyond that, and actually had some good stick work defensively. Seemed to be engaged more when he was at the center spot…

Devon Toews – C

Right place at the right time to stop a good chance at the end of the first period from going in. It’s funny that as the year has gone on, with all the PK partners he’s had, it just all ends up coming back to Cale Makar and him running the show on the PK too.