Avs Game 8 Grades - Consistently Inconsistent

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The Avalanche played a strong first period but completely fell apart in the second period and didn’t create enough to challenge the Predators, losing 5-1.

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

Tyson Barrie (C) – Barrie picked it up a bit last game, and while he had 4 shots on goal tonight, he was still relatively quiet.  He’s underperforming but still putting up points.

Francois Beauchemin (F) – Somehow the Preds managed to muster 23 shot attempts in Beauchemin’s 13 minutes of even strength ice time.  That’s pretty hard to do.  He was put in a tough spot on the first goal by Gelinas’ giveaway, but he had a real tough night overall.

Rene Bourque (D) – The third line was an abomination.  I know Bourque scored last game, but he should not be on the PP at all.  Somehow he was 5th in ice time among Avs forwards.

Joe Colborne (C-) – I actually liked some of his shifts when he got moved up to the MacKinnon line, but I have no idea what he was doing on the 4th Preds goal.  He had Josi, then just stopped paying attention and did nothing in front of the net.

Blake Comeau (F) – When will the bad penalties stop?  Another bad one tonight for Comeau, and he lost the faceoff on the 2nd Preds goal pretty easily.  He lost the puck trying to toe drag on a 3 on 2 not long before the first Preds goal.

Matt Duchene (B) – Really smart play by Duchene on the first goal, basically passing the puck off of Rinne’s pads for an easy goal for Iginla.  He crushed it in the faceoff circle when most of the Avs struggled.

Eric Gelinas (F) – Bednar didn’t think Tyutin was in shape to play, but he might be having second thoughts about that tonight.  Gelinas had a horrendous night, starting with a turnover on the opening Predators goal, and continuing with several other turnovers through the night.  His play since coming back into the lineup hasn’t exactly been encouraging.

Mikhail Grigorenko (C-) – Grigs had a strong first period, including picking a pass off out of mid air in the NZ to move it the other way, but he struggled the rest of the night, and seemed to get benched late in the game.

Jarome Iginla (D) – He scored an easy goal, but was not good the rest of the night.  He’s not playing a lot at even strength, but when you play with skilled players and can’t keep up, it’s obvious.  Some of his shots on the PP seemed forced.

Erik Johnson (B) – Amongst the Avs getting crushed in shot attempts, Johnson managed to be well above the 50% point, the only Avs defenseman to do so.  He didn’t have any real glaring mistakes like a lot of the team.

Gabriel Landeskog (C-) – I liked him coming out physical at the start of the third, but the Avs need him on the ice, and when he finishes with 0 shots on goal, that’s just not acceptable.

Nathan MacKinnon (D) – MacKinnon was great in the first, but really fell off.  He lost some crucial PK faceoffs in the second, and had some bad turnovers.  Like Landeskog, he finished the game with 0 shots on goal.

Andreas Martinsen (B-) – Avs had a real slow start and Martinsen was one of the only guys that was moving in the first 5 minutes.  He looks like a very different player this year, and seems to have some chemistry with Mitchell on that line.

John Mitchell (B) – Mitchell has been strong since coming back in.  We all know his games of frustration will come, but we haven’t seen them yet.  That call on him in the 2nd was just bizarre.

Mikko Rantanen (B) – How does he not have a point yet?  He looks really good out there, and extremely confident with the puck on his stick.  The points will come, and when they do, the flood gates will open.

Carl Soderberg (F) – He’s the most talented guy on the third line, but hasn’t shown much.  He got kicked out of the circle before the Preds 2nd goal, and managed to lose his guy completely on the goal.  He took a really bad penalty in the 2nd period as well.

Semyon Varlamov (D) – Varly was good in the second period, but that 2nd Preds goal was a bit of a killer, especially when the Avs had some momentum going.  I know the defense wasn’t the greatest in front of him, but another 5 goal game is worrisome.

Patrick Wiercioch (C) – Honestly didn’t notice Wiercioch a ton tonight, other than a few times when he fumbled some passes on the PP.  Maybe not the worst thing in the world.

Nikita Zadorov (B-) – Zadorov was really good for most of the night.  In the defensive zone and neutral zone, he looks confident and very effective, but in the offensive zone, he seems unsure of himself.  He was hesitant on the pinch before the Preds goal, and even though it wasn’t an odd man rush against, his hesitation cost the team.  He seems focused on his defense, but maybe that’s taking away from his offensive game a bit.

The Avs hit the road for a game to take on the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday evening.  The game starts at 6:30 PM MST.