Avs Game 9 Grades: Collapse

Bowen Byram – D

Put with Girard on a pair and neither of them looked good. A few times Byram would try to skate through forecheckers and it just wasn’t happening. Stuck out there for extended periods of time, especially in the third.

Andrew Cogliano – C–

This line was completely fine, and they had some chances. Cogliano had a good look early in the game but put a really soft shot on net, and obviously, he had the chance to tie it up late but couldn’t lift the puck over Varlamov’s pad.

J.T. Compher – B-

Again, had one of his better games this season, and made some surprisingly nice passes, hitting Toews in the offensive zone at one point and the pass to Cogliano that could have changed the game. Still yet to get on the scoreboard, however.

Alexander Georgiev – C+

Tough one to grade, because he played really well, it’s just that the fourth goal by the Islanders is one he might want back, getting beat short side. Spectacular sequence leading up to the Rantanen goal, and was doing everything he could to hold the Islanders off with very little help from the defense.

Samuel Girard – F

Just a horrific night, with soft clears all over the place and getting completely outmuscled by Zach Parise on the Islanders second goal. At one point in the offensive zone, he made a fake shot and then a move to the middle, only to float a soft wrister into a defender for an easy breakout.

Dryden Hunt – C–

Was good on the forecheck, and played more physical than the night before, but there was very little offense to be seen from him.

Erik Johnson – C–

At one point in the first period, used some nice escapability to break the puck out for his team when it looked like he was in trouble. Had a nice poke check to lead to O’Connor’s breakaway early.

Martin Kaut – D

The Avs did get beat down with him on the ice, but he was used on the penalty kill and was around in the chaos prior to Rantanen’s goal. I believe he got one shift in the third period, so what can you do?

Artturi Lehkonen – D

Missed a few good looks in front of the net on the power play, and at even strength, only generated one shot. We’re now looking at no goals since the opener and no even-strength goals on the season.

Mikhail Maltsev – C-

I’ve liked his play. He’s smart defensively, smart with the puck, but gets no ice time. I really don’t know what they want from him and what he has to do to earn more ice time.

Kurtis MacDermid – F

Can’t play as little as he did and make such a negative impact. He’s out of position on breakouts that lead to icings, and yet another penalty for cross-checking.

Nathan MacKinnon – F

Maybe he’s worn down from being overplayed, but the decision-making has been sub-par. Pulling up with consistency on zone entries, but the biggest issue tonight was in his own end. Had some truly horrific moments defensively that helped the Islanders take the lead, and didn’t do enough offensively to make up for it.

Cale Makar – D

I get why he was upset and frustrated with the no-call on the Islanders fourth goal, but I didn’t think it was that bad. He just got the puck taken from him, and was likely frustrated because it was a massive swing. More or less the only pair that could leave their zone, but there is so much more he’s capable of.

Josh Manson – D

Not sure why they moved him to the left side when he was already struggling, and he really struggled in the first period with that adjustment, with a shot block that led to an odd-man rush. Settled down a bit after that and blocked the shot that led to Rantanen’s goal.

Alex Newhook – C-

For two periods, was largely invisible and passed up every shot attempt he had. Then in the third, he threw a puck at the net, then got a good chance on a turnover he forced, and finally got rewarded with the goal late. It was meaningless in the grand scheme of the game, but hopefully can get him going.

Logan O’Connor – B

Even though he can’t score to save his life on breakaways, he was getting consistent chances and was involved a lot. Was under the skin of the Islanders as well, as he was involved in a lot of scrums. Probably one of the Avs better forwards.

Mikko Rantanen – C-

I really just don’t get it. His goal looked effortless. The feed to Rodrigues, along with his ability to use his eyes to create that lane, was fantastic. He had a spinning backhand pass to Toews in the third for a good look. But he’s a massive man who was getting outmuscled consistently and was a disaster in the third defensively.

Evan Rodrigues – A

I never thought I’d see a day where he played over 27 minutes in a regulation game for this team, but here we are. Was good on the penalty kill, finished his chances offensively, and is one of the few guys who will enter the zone with the puck at the moment.

Devon Toews – B-

The execution with the puck in the offensive zone is not there currently, but he’s at least moving the play forward. Had the best shot share numbers on the team by a good bit.