Avs Game 7 Grades: Fun in the Sun

Erik Johnson – C

Another up and down game for EJ. He, like most of the defense, had a really tough first period and calmed down after that. He ended the night with five shot attempts at even strength, which is pretty strong. Had an inexplicable icing late in the game that could have cost the team but didn’t. He’s turned into a very good player in the 3 on 3 overtime, a rarity for the Avs.

Cale Makar – F

Rookies, no matter how talented they are, have games like this. A brutal night all around for him. He looked afraid of contact when he missed the puck prior to the Panthers’ third goal, then got turned around by talented players. Struggled with the puck all night long, and was eventually stapled to the bench with eight minutes left in the game. I highly doubt he will be put in the press box for a night, but Bednar has shown he’s not afraid to do what he thinks he has too. The point production has masked some of his mistakes early on, but they were obvious tonight.

Matt Calvert – A

Don’t look now, but Calvert has five points in seven games. His manhandling of Yandle in the corner created the second goal for the Avs, which ended up being huge. That line is a coach’s dream.

Nikita Zadorov – C

He got back into the lineup and had a strong game with some big mistakes. His play with the puck left a lot to be desired at times, and you would like to see him put a little more pressure on Connolly before his goal. Other than that, the coaching staff seemed to put their trust in him, as he played over 20 minutes, picked up an assist, and was on the ice in overtime. He threw a big hit in the second period on Barkov when the Avs were down by two that may have given the team a little boost.

Tyson Jost – B

Jost isn’t playing a lot right now, but you have to be happy with how he’s played since being moved back to center. He had a great chance in the slot in the first that Bobrovsky got his leg on. Unfortunately, he’s still getting hammered in the face-off circle.

Colin Wilson – C+

A quiet, grind it out game for Wilson.  While he didn’t stand out in any way in this one, he did have the best possession numbers on the team. I think that line just did their job, as they essentially become the fourth line for the night.

Ryan Graves – B

A relatively quiet night overall for Graves, but he looked quite good on the PK, and outside of a few turnovers on defense, was just fine. If you go the entire night without really noticing him, I think you have to be happy.

Ian Cole – A

Six shot attempts, two assists, a +4, and the Avs controlled 67% of the shot attempts with him out there. By the second period, he had moved to the second pairing with Zadorov, and they were out there together for three Avs goals. Hard not to like his game tonight.

Nathan MacKinnon – D+

This is a tough one. He’s clearly not 100%, but he (and that line in general) were just awful tonight. His line was clearly outplayed by the top players on Florida. MacKinnon registered zero shot attempts at even strength and looked slow. But he’s a game-breaker, and all he needed was one nice chance in overtime to end the game.

J.T. Compher – B

He played more than his linemates because of special teams time, but a solid game overall for him, and he nearly gave the Avs the lead late while shorthanded. Picked up an assist in the first when he cycled out high to the blueline, which is something the Avs try in practice a lot with their centers. It worked to perfection there.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – A

Who knew that Bellemare could sauce like that? Bednar has his ideal fourth line together and they did their job tonight. He did much better in the face-off circle this evening as well, which is what he was brought in for. A strong PK night for him.

Samuel Girard – D

For the second game in a row, I thought Girard really struggled. It’s rare for him to lose a foot race, which he did on the shorthanded goal for the Panthers, and there was some miscommunication between him, Landeskog, and EJ on the opening goal.

Joonas Donskoi – A

Even though the Panthers scored pretty quickly afterward, his goal in the first period was enormous, as it gave them something to go off of heading into the second period. He was a monster at both ends of the ice in this one and picked up a season-high three points. The second line took their turn being the top line tonight.

Matt Nieto – A

Yes, I know he missed a potential game-winning goal late on that breakaway, but the tenacious forecheck of his to even create that play is something he’s done well all year. I’ve said it before that he’s the unsung hero for this team right now, and he’s played well in each game.

Nazem Kadri – A-

His defensive zone work just prior to the first Burakovsky goal is something the Avs desperately need in their own end. Even though he didn’t pick up a point in this one, he played great overall. Yet again, he dominated in the face-off circle, winning 69% of his draws. The one downside to his game tonight was getting tricked into taking an unsportsmanlike penalty in the second period.

Gabriel Landeskog – F

After his tough night in Pittsburgh, I would have expected better, but it was the opposite of that tonight. He was a mess with the puck all night, losing it all over the ice and causing odd-man rushes trying to skate through guys. A sign that it wasn’t his night? He didn’t touch the ice in overtime.

Andre Burakovsky – A

I’m not the type of guy who is afraid to admit he was wrong, and it sure looks like I might have been on this one. What a rocker of a shot in the second period to tie the game. That’s a shot that no one other than MacKinnon on this team could make. 15 seconds after the Panthers took the lead, Burakovsky scored a dirty one in front of the net. He capped off his night with the primary assist on MacKinnon’s winner. That trade is looking pretty…pretty…pretty good right now.

Mikko Rantanen – D

Of the three forwards on the top line, I think he may have been the best, but that’s not saying much. He used his strength a few times, including late in the game when he powered around a defenseman to put it towards the net, but that was few and far between. Had an offensive blueline turnover in the second period that forced him to come back and take a penalty. An off night for the big three.

Philipp Grubauer – B

How the heck do I grade that one? Two of the four goals he gave up were leaky, getting through when they shouldn’t have, but he also made some absurd saves in this one, including several in the third period. His glove was doing some work late in the game, and Barkov will have nightmares when he looks back and sees what Grubauer did to him on that late power play. His ability to lock it down when he needs too has been special to start the year.