Avs Game 80 Grades: The Toews effect

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – C

Seeing him on the second line was interesting, but probably a sign, more than anything, that he’s a floater and come postseason, isn’t likely to be in the top 12 forward crew.

Andre Burakovsky – D-

It’s funny the Avs won tonight because their high end skill guys up front were not at their best. Burakovsky had chances, but you cannot score if you don’t make the goalie make a save. His best chances he felt like he had to go bar down, and didn’t even come close to hitting the net. His only redeeming quality tonight was some nice blocked shots defensively.

Bowen Byram – A-

Probably his best game since returning. He and EJ looked pretty good together, he was joining the rush pretty consistently, and solid defensively. The penalty on him, wasn’t a huge fan of the call because he was playing the man, who just happened to lose the puck a second before he made his move.

Andrew Cogliano – B

Had a good chance in the slot in the first period and fired it pretty far wide. Beyond that, the fourth line did exactly what you’d want from them.

J.T. Compher – A

Mustaches have real power, apparently. Beyond the two assists (great read on the empty-net goal), he was good in the face-off circle and had some good looks of his own. He and Newhook seemed to have some chemistry going too.

Samuel Girard – C

I really hope him picking up an assist, even if it was a secondary one, can get him going. That pair was the only one that seemed to get hemmed in their own end consistently. At one point, Girard went to body Nathan Walker and bounced off him.

Darren Helm – B

Solid game overall from him, and starting to get the feeling that the fourth line from the last two games is what we see in game one.

Erik Johnson – A

For a while there in the second period, he looked like the EJ of old moving a shaking around the ice. I’m kind of surprised he has eight goals on the year. Had a nice chance just moments after his goal too with a big shot on the rush.

Nazem Kadri – C-

Maybe the empty net goal gets him going because the Avs need him back to what he was pre-injury. He and MacKinnon didn’t have much communication on the third Blues goal. Had a nice rush and move up the ice in the third but it only resulted in a bad angle shot. He has not looked good on the powerplay since returning.

Darcy Kuemper – B

The third goal was just a great play by Buchnevich, so you got to give it to him on that, and the other two were pretty solid deflections. Had a huge save on O’Reilly shorthanded in the third period when the Avs kind of fell asleep.

Artturi Lehkonen – B+

For the first time, he and MacKinnon seemed to have some good chemistry going, and Lehkonen was hitting MacK with speed in the neutral zone. Fitting that the game-winning goal comes off some forecheck work by him and Nichushkin.

Nathan MacKinnon – C

A better effort, and like I mentioned above, looked more natural with his linemates, but still know there is more there. Had some tough moments in the face-off circle.

Cale Makar – B

Felt good to see him back with Toews, as they are just perfect together. There were a few times when I wanted him to let it rip when he had some good looks and he held off. Powerplay is just off.

Josh Manson – C+

Still giving away some muffins, including a rough turnover in the third period, but nice to see him get in on the scoring after a nice, clean haircut.

Alex Newhook – A-

He didn’t play center but had a great night when called upon in the face-off circle. Great hustle on the EJ goal, and the type of night they’re going to need from him on the third line come playoff time.

Valeri Nichushkin – A

Is there anything this guy can’t do right now? Starts the scoring with some nice patience off the face-off win, and then creates the game-winner with just great pressure on Binnington.

Logan O’Connor – C-

The burst isn’t there and created very little on the evening, so you just wonder if he’s the odd man out come next week.

Nico Sturm – B+

The penalty kill in the first period, he put on a clinic on how to get people to think they have a lane when they really don’t. Great stick a few times to break up plays, including one to cut down a backdoor chance. At home on the fourth line.

Devon Toews – B+

We all missed this guy, and it’s evident that his being in the lineup makes the team significantly better just by pushing players down in ice time. He had a few fumbles of the puck, and the delay of game penalty is what it is, but a really good first game back from a guy that really helps hold this team together.