Avs/Golden Knights Game 2 Grades: A dub is a dub

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – F

The fourth line was horrific tonight at even strength. The Avs didn’t register a shot on net with those guys on the ice, and spent a lot of time just holding on for dear life in their own end. Bellemare was one of the guys not covering the seam pass on the Vegas powerplay goal.

Andre Burakovsky – C-

Felt like Burky had a bit more jump in game two. He had the horrendous turnover in the second period that resulted in a post for Vegas, but beyond that, he at least had some more chances and some decent zone entries on the powerplay. Robbed in the second period in front of the net.

J.T. Compher – D+

Compher on that line hasn’t mattered because the top line has been doing their thing, but when they aren’t that dangerous like tonight, the lack of offense from Compher’s line becomes very apparent. He didn’t have a great night in the face-off circle and had some tough passes that didn’t connect. Right now, the Avs are just waiting things out until they can get Kadri back. I do think he did well on the PK again though.

Joonas Donskoi – D+

Didn’t have much jump with his legs, as it seemed like he was getting caught from behind by Vegas in the neutral zone. Did have the nice feed to Burky in the slot in the second, but pretty quiet beyond that.

Sam Girard – C-

Started out really well then faded pretty hard. Great pass on the Saad goal to recognize he had some space and give him a pass where he could keep it away from Pietrangelo. The Avs got completely dominated with Girard on the ice, which is extremely rare.

Ryan Graves – F

You know it’s a tough night when the coaching staff, in a playoff game, sits you down for half a period at even strength. That’s what happened with Graves in the second. The soft clears on the penalty kill, including the one prior to the first Vegas goal, were poor, and he was wandering everywhere on the Vegas second goal. Need a bounce back.

Philipp Grubauer – A+

Thank god for Grubi (and his goalposts). The only reason the Avs were able to hold on until overtime because the final two periods were not pretty. The narrative coming into this game was all around Fleury at the other end, and Grubi stole the show. The two breakaway saves in the third period were massive.

Tyson Jost – B

His shot share numbers were pretty horrendous, and it was mostly against the Vegas second and third lines, but huge powerplay goal when the Avs really needed it. Getting nothing out of four first-period powerplays would have been soul-crushing. That line, even with tough numbers, was the only one other than the top line bursts providing consistent sparks.

Gabriel Landeskog – C-

Not Landy’s best night. He took a puck to the face, then a cross-check to the face. People really are jealous of his face, I guess. After the cross-check, he got up and just kept going, rather than get in the ref’s face. That’s a leader right there. Tough night in the defensive zone with the puck, but those will happen.

Nathan MacKinnon – C

Really struggled to get any speed going in the neutral zone, and struggled on a few zone exits as well. There was one play in the second period that I loved seeing him crush Marchessault into the boards after they had been going at it a while. Vegas did everything they could to keep the puck away from him on the overtime powerplay, and the second it got to him, he created the goal.

Cale Makar – D+

A surprisingly lackadaisical game with the puck, after a dominant performance Sunday. The first shift of the second period, he just was out for a skate and the puck bounced over his stick into his own slot for a chance. Later in the period, he tried to toe drag a bouncing puck in the neutral zone and had it taken away. It’s rare for the Avs to win games when he plays like this, so Vegas missed a big opportunity.

Patrik Nemeth – B

I’ll say it…he wasn’t great with the puck, but I liked him a lot tonight. On nights like tonight, he knows his limitations and will punt it if he has to. Got moved up to the second pair with Graves’ struggles and unlike Graves, put some mustard into his clears on the penalty kill.

Alex Newhook – F

This was his worst showing to date. The holding penalty, I felt, was legit, and he had some turnovers in the neutral zone that ended up in zone time for Vegas. The line was just stuck in the mud all night.

Valeri Nichushkin – B

Not a perfect night with the puck for Nichushkin, as he had some turnovers trying to create plays he really can’t create, but loved his defensive effort. Had some huge plays in the defensive zone, and was one guy who understood to cover the seam pass on the penalty kill, breaking up multiple chances after the Vegas opening goal.

Sampo Ranta – F

A tough spot to be thrown into, but not sure you can keep throwing him out there. He doesn’t look like he’s ready for this right now, and is doing everything just to not make a huge mistake. That line is so ineffective that it’s time to get a veteran in there.

Mikko Rantanen – B

First two periods weren’t great, but you could see Mikko revving his engines in the third period, with some slick stick lifts to keep plays alive in the offensive zone. The overtime game-winner was almost identical to his first NHL goal.

Brandon Saad – B

He’s got that mojo, and the goal proved it. Just like in the regular season, everything wants to go into the net for him. He did a great job adjusting in the neutral zone just to catch the pass at all. That line has something good going.

Conor Timmins – C

Didn’t really have a huge problem with his game overall, but given it’s unlikely they scratch Graves, even after a rough night like tonight, this felt like a game where you look at the defense and wonder if it’s Byram time. The lack of speed from those bottom three was on display tonight.

Devon Toews – D+

Sloppy night with the puck and the penalty late in the third, he got caught pretty far back in his own zone with a poor gap. Like I mentioned with Makar, the shifts to start the second and third kind of set the tone for those periods with the Avs and both he and Makar looked sloppy on zone exits, which we are not used to seeing.