Avs Game 78 Grades: Level of concern rising

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – C+

Aube-Kubel had some legs, unlike a lot of the team, who I thought looked sluggish. Had some nice chip and chase moments and was willing to hold onto the puck a little bit on the third line. Felt more dangerous than his two linemates.

Andre Burakovsky – C-

Burky picks up points in games I really don’t like him in. When I don’t like him, it feels like his decision-making is just way too slow with the puck and that kills some plays.

Bowen Byram – C

I think he’s partly to blame on the third Oilers goal, as there was a real breakdown in communication between the defenders and they switched sides. Made a nice defensive play off the rush on McDavid and a great feed on the first goal.

Andrew Cogliano – C-

Made a really great feed to Helm in the first for a mini-break that was stopped. After that, not a whole lot.

J.T. Compher – D

Lost the face-off pretty cleanly on the fifth goal, that was really the dagger in the third period. Moved up to the second line and registered zero shot attempts.

Samuel Girard – D

Loved seeing him go after Yamamoto behind the net in the first period. You can tell when he eyes up someone his size. Beyond that, not a good night, and a few times he just looked dead tired skating back for the puck.

Darren Helm – B-

One of the few guys who felt like he had some jump, at least early on. Set up O’Connor on a two on one that he couldn’t finish, and had a nice chance of his own that he couldn’t score on.

Jack Johnson – C

A quiet game from him, which you’ll take after the struggles the last few times he’s been out there. It was funny watching him on the four on four trying to dangle his way through the defense.

Nazem Kadri – D

He and Evander Kane were going at it verbally more or less all game long, but unfortunately Kane got the better of everything. Interesting that he didn’t seem to take a ton of face-offs. Compher stepped in a few times. Didn’t look good on the two-man advantage. Zero shots at even strength.

Darcy Kuemper – F

Just a bad night. The first goal, he way overcommitted, second one was a flukey mess, and the fifth goal through the legs on a backhand just hurts. He’s been better so no concerns.

Artturi Lehkonen – D

Not as noticeable a game from Lehkonen as we’ve seen. Moved off the top power play unit in place of Kadri and the second unit didn’t do much on its own either. Most noticeable part of his game was when he slid into Mike Smith and Smith took it personally.

Kurtis MacDermid – F

I don’t know if I can fully say that third Oilers goal was on him, because he was being asked to switch to the other side on that coverage, but not a lot of communication between him and Byram. Just seeing he cannot be trusted in the playoffs on defense.

Nathan MacKinnon – D

He’s stepped up big time in games against the Oilers this year, but tonight was not his night. Got a bit of a flukey goal late to pad the stats.

Cale Makar – C

I have no idea how he broke free of any Edmonton forwards on the first goal, but just a sign of what he and Byram could do as a pair. Powerplay stunk, especially the five on three. No shots at even strength.

Josh Manson – F

The defense on the Kane hat trick goal was quite bad, and he struggled a lot beyond that. Can’t be just punching guys in the head, and had a brutal giveaway in the third in the high slot to Draisaitl of all people.

Alex Newhook – D

Had a great chance to make it interesting really late in the game on the powerplay but couldn’t lift the puck. Didn’t seem to get much going at even strength.

Valeri Nichushkin – B+

Good thing he was there, otherwise it wouldn’t have been that fun of a game to watch. First goal was a lot of work by the defenders, but the second one was a beautiful cut to the middle. Actually looked like Mikko. Kept the puck alive a few times on the powerplay, which was just bad.

Logan O’Connor – C

Certainly had his chance early on a two on one, but couldn’t score on the backhand. At least he learned his lesson on Ovechkin the other night, as he stuck with Draisaitl back door on time to stop a goal.

Nico Sturm – D

Not sure what Bednar’s plan for him is in the postseason, as he’s ideally on the fourth line, but if he’s going to play on the third line, they’ll need a little bit more offense. That line was just generally low event.