Avs/Golden Knights Game 5 Grades: Season on the brink

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – C

Really didn’t play much in the last half of the game, but spent a lot of time defending in the first period, and had a bad icing in the first when he had a chance to hit his teammates for an odd-man rush. Jumped up a bit in the second.

Andre Burakovsky – F

ANOTHER game with zero shots on net, but none of that matters. The turnover at the start of the third changed the entire momentum of the game. He’s been bad all playoffs long and mistakes like that are starting to pile up night after night.

J.T. Compher – C+

Thought he battled hard most of the night in a tough spot, matching up against the Stone line seemingly every shift. He was, however, kind of a black hole offensively. Makar set him up in the second period in the slot and he flubbed it. Had a great chance early in overtime and sent it right into Fleury’s chest.

Joonas Donskoi – C+

I thought he really struggled in the first and for part of the second. Almost gave Bellemare a suicide pass in the neutral zone that got the Avs stuck in their end most of the shift. Bounced back with a few great shifts in the second, including his goal shift, and then was not seen most of the game.

Sam Girard – B-

Thought he looked a good bit better after struggling most of the series. He was engaged physically and throwing his body around when he got the chance. His shot still was a muffin but he looked more like the Sam that we know.

Ryan Graves – F

Six of his seven shot attempts blocked, but the only ones people will remember are the two in overtime. He had options and could have made the safer play, but didn’t, and worst of all, he got caught watching after his second shot was blocked. That’s all it took.

Philipp Grubauer – C

REALLY hard to blame Grubi on anything, given the chances that he had to stop, but three goals on 11 shots in the third and overtime and Vegas capitalized on all their big chances. Just needed one more stop.

Tyson Jost – B-

Easily his best game of the series, but lacked some finish. Had a mini breakaway in the second period that Fleury stopped him on, and in the third, went right off Fleury’s shoulder on a great shot.

Gabriel Landeskog – C

I loved Landy most of the game. Loved him. He battled, forechecked, did everything he could to carry his line. But the bad pass on the second goal killed everything. He worked his ass off to get back, but it wasn’t enough. If he plays like that again, he’ll be fine, but that bad pass hurt a lot.

Nathan MacKinnon – D

Vegas bottled him up again, and he had nothing going. He rarely was able to gain speed through the neutral zone to get started. The Avs just need way more from him to keep this series going. Had some good moments at times, but has not been the superstar they need.

Cale Makar – D

What a wild up and down game from him. Had a horrific shift in the first period with multiple turnovers and a lot of chasing in his own end. Started to pick it up in the second but never really broke through. The Avs two stars haven’t been what they needed.

Patrik Nemeth – B-

Had one terrible giveaway in the first period that led to chaos in his own end, but I thought he bounced back nicely. Made a few nice pinches, including on the Donskoi goal, and made a smart pass to Jost on a rush in the third.

Alex Newhook – C+

Looked a little out of it in the first period, but then picked it up. Nearly scored on a wrap-around off a feed from Donskoi and then found Donskoi in the slot for a goal his next shift. Like Donskoi, basically sat on the bench in the third.

Valeri Nichushkin – B

Completely lacking in finish, but had a great game overall. Great on the forecheck and was much more physical than he usually is. For a guy his size, he can run people over but doesn’t do it as much as he should.

Logan O’Connor – A

Not sure you can ask for much more than you got from him tonight. Stepped in and immediately provided energy and physical play. Missed his breakaway in the third and a chip pass in the second led to a Jost break.

Mikko Rantanen – D

No clue at all how he missed a tap-in in the first period, but he did, and it stings a little bit because soon after he was called for an absurd penalty. Hit the post in the third, but was only credited with one shot on net.

Brandon Saad – A

Did everything that he needed to do on that top line and more. Super high IQ play on his goal to check the clock and try to get a better shot off with no one in front of him. Had some great chances. He’s held up his end of the bargain.

Conor Timmins – B-

Outside of a bizarre play in the third where he nearly skated into Grubauer, I really liked him tonight, and the staff seemed to trust him a lot more than normal. Still lacks separation but played solid.

Devon Toews – C

Once again had issues with the puck on the breakout and in the neutral zone, but had some nice plays as well. Should have had an assist on his backdoor pass to Mikko in the first.