Avs Game 62 Grades - Another Loss to a Bad Team

The Avalanche had plenty of chances, but Ryan Miller was stellar, and the Avs were sloppy in their own end, on their way to a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.  They have now dropped both their games to the Canucks this season.

How did each player perform?  Let’s find out…

Tyson Barrie (C) – I thought Barrie had good jump again tonight, and created some nice offensive chances, but like everyone else on the ice, he was caught watching on the Canucks 2nd goal.

Francois Beauchemin (D) – The defenseman got caught doing a whole lot of nothing on the first goal of the game, covering no one, and failing to block the shot.  He’s been great at breaking up 2 on 1’s but wasn’t able to stop the pass to Hansen on the Canucks 4th goal.

Chris Bigras (B) – Bigras was probably the best defender on the ice for the Avs.  He had a terrific rush up the ice in the second period that started behind his own net and ended in about 4 scoring chances at the other end.  I worry about some of the hits he’s willing to take to make a play.

Andrew Bodnarchuk (F) – I’m still wondering what the Avs see in this guy, but they obviously like something.  The Canucks had a goal disallowed that only became a chance because Bodnarchuk was covering no one at all.

Blake Comeau (D) – Comeau finished with 4 shots on goal, but I don’t recall him being very noticable at all.  It will be interesting to see how that line meshes with another new left winger.

Matt Duchene (C) – Duchene got a pity goal late in the game, and his line had plenty of chances, but he was also a bit sloppy with the puck, turning it over more than a few times.

Mikhail Grigorenko (C) – There is plenty of blame to go around on the Canucks 2nd goal, but Grigs was technically the closest to Hansen, even if that wasn’t really his man.  Made some nice passes tonight, but had a chance early in the 3rd that he really needed to shoot instead of pass on.

Nick Holden (C) – Holden did have a decent game, and made some strong defensive plays late in the game when it was out of reach, unfortunately.  Got beat by a forecheck before the Canucks 2nd goal due to his lack of speed.

Jarome Iginla (C) – Iggy had his chances, but was unable to finish any of them.  He’s got two linemates who can find him, in their own ways, so he’s got to take advantage of that.

Erik Johnson (C-) – EJ had a very up and down game.  He lost his man on the first goal, and got caught pinching trying to create offense on the 4th goal, but he was doing a lot offensively.  He really needed to lift the puck in the 2nd period when Miller robbed him.

Gabriel Landeskog (C) – I really like the way Landeskog is playing right now.  The points aren’t there, and he didn’t get one tonight, but he’s playing well at both ends.

Nathan MacKinnon (C) – MacKinnon had another strong game tonight, but wasn’t rewarded for it.  Made a great rush to set up Soderberg, only for him to get robbed.  The Avs need him to start producing for the stretch run.

Cody McLeod (D) – I’m not sure that McLeod is all that healthy after that fight last night, but that 4th line got pinned in their own end a lot tonight.

John Mitchell (D) – Mitchell got robbed early in the night, and then just kind of disappeared the rest of the night.  With the Matthias acquisition, he will probably be back on the 4th line next game.

Jack Skille (D) – A quiet game from Skille tonight after a strong one last night.  He took a shot off the leg late in the game and didn’t return.

Carl Soderberg (C) – The guy had a good game, but given how many top notch scoring chances he had, the team needed him to bury at least one.  Got robbed by Miller in the first period, then got stopped on a breakaway in the second period.  He had 6 shots on net, so he had his chances.

Alex Tanguay (D) – Every once in a while, you get a decent game from Tanguay, like last night, but more often than not, it’s been a struggle, like it was again tonight.  Completely flubbed a chance in front early in the game, not even getting a shot on net.

Semyon Varlamov (D) – The Avs, despite the score, did not play that bad, but Varlamov wasn’t able to make any of the great saves he usually makes, and it cost them.  The dumb penalty he took at the end of the second period sealed their fate.

Chris Wagner (D) – Wagner got back in the lineup tonight, but didn’t do a whole lot of good.  He was pinned in his own end a lot, and got burned on the 4th Canucks goal.

The Avalanche have a few days off before they take on the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.  The game starts at 8 PM MST.