Avs-Predators Game Three Grades: Momentum shift

The Colorado Avalanche topped the Nashville Predators 5-3 in game three of their series. Below are player grades.

Sven Andrighetto (C) – Another slow night for this line. Andrighetto had some chances to make plays but nothing came of them. Despite a lack of offense, nothing bad against is happening when he’s out there. There’s value in that.

Mark Barberio (C+) – Once again proving his game one performance is more anomaly than habit, Barberio was solid tonight. There were a number of unforced icings throughout that is certainly frustrating but his solid play on the puck to clear the zone late in the third led to Colorado securing that important fifth goal and sealing the game.

Tyson Barrie (B-) – Tonight proved how important the matchups really are as Bednar and Pratt were able to get Barrie on the ice against a better split of Nashville’s top lines. It made a world of difference as Barrie was effective against both Kyle Turris and Filip Forsberg in limiting their chances when he was out there. A big step forward for Barrie.

Jonathan Bernier (B-) – Bernier was better tonight and two of the three goals against were no-win situations for him. The third goal by Watson was a messy affair and one he shouldn’t have given up but it mattered not in the long run. Still a bit shaky but an overall improvement from games one and two.

Gabriel Bourque (A) – Hell yeah that goal was awesome. A great deflection by Bourque changed the narrative of Colorado jumping out to an early lead only to have Nashville work their way back as he made it 2-0 and set Colorado on the path of kicking some Predator tail.

Blake Comeau (B) – The goal was a great finish off a fantastic feed from Soderberg. Beyond that, this line continued to eat the hardest defensive matchups and it shows they are not well-equipped to handle them. The numbers were greatly skewed by the score effects of the third period but even strength success continues to elude this line.

J.T. Compher (B) – Another assist for Compher as his offense has quietly picked up here in the playoffs. He has two points in this series and is helping ignite a fourth line that continues to have an impact on this series.

Tyson Jost (D) – Where have you gone, Tyson Jost?

Alexander Kerfoot (C) – Kerfoot’s best moments arguably came in the defensive zone when he skated pucks out of danger and into the clear. Given Colorado’s lack of puck skill on the back end in this lineup, that’s a valuable skill. Offensively, he continues to accomplish a whole lot of nothing.

Gabriel Landeskog (A+) – His play to spring MacKinnon for the third Colorado goal was really the dagger Colorado would spend the rest of the game driving in. He ignited all of it with a great individual effort.

Nathan MacKinnon (A+) – Were it not for the absurdity of what Boston’s top line was doing, MacKinnon would be getting more pub for the numbers he’s put up so far in this series. He was great again tonight and now has 15 points in 10 playoff games.

Patrik Nemeth (D) – Him struggling so much to clear pucks on the PK versus his tendency for icings at even strength is kind of fascinating to watch. He is wildly, hilariously overplayed but without Johnson and Girard that’s what happens. The Avalanche are straight up surviving with a patchwork defense right now.

Matt Nieto (C+) – He brings an unexpected toughness for a guy his size and he showed it again tonight when he blocked a shot and was clearly in pain but didn’t miss a shift. He was tops among Avs forwards in SH TOI tonight.

Mikko Rantanen (D) – His struggles are just so obvious. To me, he appears to be lacking confidence and the power play that used to be a wicked three-headed beast (Fluffy, perhaps?) has been reduced to MacKinnon and pray in this series. His soft play on the puck has been downright befuddling.

Duncan Siemens (D-) – He couldn’t clear the puck and he was brutal in his own zone. Basically, nothing positive happened with him on the ice tonight and that was even in very limited minutes.

Carl Soderberg (B) – The matchups are over his had but the pass he made to Comeau was downright sublime. I don’t mind the lopsided numbers against because he only started in the offensive zone 30% of the time and was out there for much of Nashville’s push at the end.

David Warsofsky (C) – He made one really good read early in the game to cut a clearing attempt and step in front of the play and keep the puck in the offensive zone. It didn’t lead to anything but those are the kind of instincts the Avs are keeping him around for. Beyond that, Nashville had limited success during his limited ice time.

Colin Wilson (C+) – He was just fine tonight. Some energy, some good board work, not much significant in either direction.

Nikita Zadorov (C+) – He got beat up by Turris, Forsberg, and Arvidsson but held his own against Fiala, Smith, and Johansen. Okay then.