Avs-Islanders Grades - Overshadowed

While Matt Duchene didn’t have to finish the game today, the Colorado Avalanche did, and amidst the distraction of their star player getting traded mid-game, the Avalanche lost to the Islanders by a score of 6-4.

How did each player perform?  Let’s find out…

Sven Andrighetto (C+) – The winger picked up a couple of assists in the last minute of the game, and had solid possession numbers to his name.

Mark Barberio (C-) – Barberio got outmuscled for the puck on the forecheck just prior to the first goal of the game, and overall didn’t have a great showing, like a lot of the defense.

Tyson Barrie (A) – 2 more assist, and a +3  on the night.  The train keeps on rolling for him this year,   We’re 13 games in and he’s almost at a PPG pace.  What more could you ask for?

Jonathan Bernier (D) – Safe to say this was his weakest performance to date.  The first goal was one that he should have stopped, and from there, he didn’t look right.  Some of the goals were just plain unlucky but his rebound control didn’t seem great tonight.

Chris Bigras (C-) – He got back into the lineup and was relatively quiet all game long,   He used his feet pretty well to escape a few tough moments but you would like to see a little more offense from him.

Gabriel Bourque (F) – The Avs got crushed with him on the ice tonight, easily the worst at 25% possession in 15 minutes of even strength time.

Blake Comeau (INC) – He took a slap shot off the ear, and looked wobbly on his way to the locker room, to say the least.  Just have to hope for the best because he has been playing well.

Matt Duchene (TRADED MID GAME) – The final two shifts of his Avalanche career came in this game before he was dealt to Ottawa.  His first two games with the Senators will come against the Avs.  Weird.

A.J. Greer (C) – With only 10 forwards, he was able to get a little bit more ice time.  He had some good moments early in the game and kind of disappeared after that.  When everyone gets healthy, more AHL time looks like it will do him well.

Rocco Grimaldi (B) – For someone who missed last game because of illness, he didn’t seem to be lacking in energy.  He had some great shifts on the forecheck, including one early in the game, and played well all night.

Erik Johnson (B+) – The offense is finally starting to come around for him, with 3 assists in his last 4 games.  It looked like he may have unnecessarily tried to block the third goal and instead deflected it into his own net.

Alexander Kerfoot (B) – His two goals were in the garbage time, to say the least, with both coming in the final minute of play.  Until Compher returns, he’ll be needed for more ice time.

Gabriel Landeskog (A) – Despite the score, the top line for the Avs was the best line on the ice by far, and Landy picked up another goal and an assist.

Nathan MacKinnon (A) – He’s on a roll right now, with 9 points in his last 4 games.  It’s nice to see him put some points up at even strength.

Patrik Nemeth (D) – Flukey, but he managed to put the 4th goal into his own net after a weird bounce off the boards.  He continues to be on the wrong side of the possession battle every night.  He also appears to be injured again, meaning he has left 3 of his 11 games this year due to injury.

Mikko Rantanen (A) – Even though he didn’t pick up any points on the night, he continued his streak of solid play.  He’s also taking a surprisingly large amount of faceoffs right now, and even won 6 tonight.

Carl Soderberg (C-) – Not Soderberg’s best showing, and he continues to have issues with taking penalties, as his penalty in the second period kind of opened the floodgates a bit.

Nail Yakupov (D) – Yak managed to take zero shot attempts at even strength, which isn’t a good sign, but he did set up Andrighetto for a good chance early in the game.  He appeared to turn the puck over just prior to the Islanders opening goal.

Nikita Zadorov (D-) – Even though it appeared to be some bad luck, with the Islanders dump in hitting the linesman and going straight to an Isles player, Z ended up getting turned inside out by Barzal on the second goal against.  Times are tough for him right now, and the Avs need him to get it together.

The Avs head to Sweden to take on the Ottawa Senators this week.  The game on Friday begins at 12 PM MST.