Avs Game 8 Grades: Sleepy in New Jersey

Bowen Byram – C

He had the unfortunate reality of Sam Girard launching the puck at him that led to the chaos and him taking the penalty that the Devils scored on. Kind of bad luck. Had some nice moves in the third to enter the zone but also had some misplays of the puck at the offensive blue line.

Andrew Cogliano – D

Set up Compher in the slot for one of the best chances of the night for the Avs, but it didn’t go in. Was on the ice for the lone Devils goal.

J.T. Compher – B-

One of the few forwards who I thought had some jump. Had some good looks, including a shot in the third that was blocked by a Devils defender, and his chance in the first in the slot that was stopped. He did allow that cross-ice pass on the Devils goal.

Pavel Franzouz – B+

You give up one goal in a game and you expect to win, but he got no goal support. You also never like to see goals that go through goalies. Far from his fault, and he hasn’t gotten the team to play great in front of him just yet.

Samuel Girard – D

We saw “The Tornade” in the third period but it didn’t lead to anything. What we did see was him launch the puck into Byram just prior to Byram taking his penalty, on a play that the Avs had time to clear the zone.

Dryden Hunt – D

It was a bit surprising to see him get some shifts late in the game when the Avs were trying to tie it all up, as he hasn’t really done much offensively since getting to Colorado. First game that I didn’t notice a ton of physicality.

Erik Johnson – D

The Avs spent a lot of time in their own end against the Devils, but Johnson was, again, on the low end in terms of shot share on the defense. Don’t love when he and Manson are on the ice together at any point.

Martin Kaut – D

Was hardly noticeable until his shift in the third period where he cycled the puck well and then drew a penalty. I think he only got one shift after that.

Artturi Lehkonen – D

No goals since the opener and when the Avs need a goal late, they tend to take Lehkonen off the top line. In 14 minutes of ice time at even strength, the Avs only registered two shots on net with Lehkonen out there.

Mikhail Maltsev – D

Got stuck on the ice for one extended shift in the first period where the puck got stuck in his feet at one point and the Devils got some good looks. After that, like most of the bottom six, a quiet night.

Jacob MacDonald – INC

Chaos man himself could have injected some energy into this game, but he barely touched the ice.

Nathan MacKinnon – D

Bednar used MacKinnon a ton, including a shift with Kaut and Hunt in the second period, but the team did not get a ton in terms of results, and the Devils defended MacKinnon really well. Right now, teams can put all their energy into stopping MacKinnon because there isn’t much to worry about beyond him.

Cale Makar – D-

Honestly, if he didn’t shatter someone’s ankles in the second, it would have been an F. Every shot attempt at even strength either was blocked or missed the net. Turnovers in his own end and sloppy defensive play. It didn’t end up counting, but not quite sure what he was doing on the disallowed goal.

Josh Manson – D

Took a penalty but drew one himself, so I guess it cancels out. Generally been a pretty uneven start to the season for Manson, which is more of what we saw during the regular season after he was acquired last year.

Alex Newhook – D-

The reason I didn’t give him an F is that defensively, he’s been fine. But there is just nothing happening offensively. A few plays just died on his stick in the first period. Finishing the game with zero shot attempts just isn’t good enough.

Logan O’Connor – D

If you’re still reading grades, you have probably noticed that I’m running out of things to say for the forwards. Most of them were non-existent. O’Connor was one of them. Times are a little tough for the forward group when LOC is 6th in ice time for that group.

Mikko Rantanen – F

In a game with no Nichushkin, Rantanen really just disappeared, and the Avs got completely caved in with him on the ice. One shot on net all night and like most of the forward group, a really sleepy game. The one consistent thing to start the season has been MacKinnon and Rantanen together, and you wonder if maybe it’s time to try something else.

Evan Rodrigues – B–

Along with Compher, the other forward who had a little bit of jump in his game. Had the breakaway late but wasn’t able to get it past Vanecek. Has started to gain a bit of momentum with the team and has the trust of Bednar already.

Devon Toews – D

Sloppy game with some uncharacteristically bad passes that he usually connects on. Didn’t attempt a single shot at even strength, and when that happens, you know the Avs are off, because his movement and ability to jump into the play is evident when the team is going.