Avs Round 2, Game 5 Grades; The one that got away

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – C

He was generally fine, but that line just has no finish or ability to get pucks onto the net. It’s a lot of stuff from the outside. His passing was a letdown tonight. Had a nice look to Landeskog in the second but the pass was too far and went for icing.

Bowen Byram – B+

The Avs essentially sat back in the third period, except for Byram. He was the one guy who pushed play a little bit. He did get running around a bit in his own end late and failed to bury it in overtime right before Bozak scored, but was probably their best defenseman.

Andrew Cogliano – D

Battled for some clears and the PK was much better, but that fourth line spent the entire game in their own end. They struggled to do anything offensively and didn’t have a forecheck going.

J.T. Compher – C

Again, generally fine defensively and in the face-off circle, but no offense to speak of. Had a good chance offensively in the third and completely fumbled the puck almost out of the zone entirely.

Darren Helm – D

Better on the penalty kill but at even strength, a big step back. Was surprised to see them get out there in overtime because it was not a good game overall from them.

Erik Johnson – C

Soft on the coverage on the second goal and lost in front of the net on the third Blues goal. Stinks because up until then, he was having another good game, but a guy you depend on to lock things down just didn’t help with that.

Jack Johnson – C-

He was stuck in his own end a lot, but nothing too bad seemed to come from it. He did get lost on the first Blues goal, as he lost Tarasenko coming out of the corner, who he was with originally. He really didn’t play a ton in the third period.

Nazem Kadri – D-

Followed up the biggest game of his life with a pretty poor performance. That whole line was not good, and in the third period, they were cheating trying to get out of the zone, rather than making smart plays to get it out. The toe drag in the third period was a little too telegraphed and easy to stop for the Blues.

Darcy Kuemper – F

That was a collapse by the entire team in the third period, but at some point, you need a save from your goaltender, and they didn’t get that late, with the Blues scoring on four of their last 12 shots. The overtime goal is just not good enough.

Gabriel Landeskog – B

I get people are mad that he didn’t go for the empty netter, but he’s trying to get to the red line to be smart. It’s just unfortunate that’s what people will remember because that line drove the bus for the team.

Artturi Lehkonen – B-

Nice setup to MacK on his first goal, and he was pretty good on the forecheck for most of the night.

Nathan MacKinnon – A

Everyone was looking for him to step up, and he sure did that. He was sloppy with the puck in the third period in the defensive zone, but the story right now should be how he scored the game-winning goal on a ridiculous effort. Instead, we’re talking about game six. Shame.

Cale Makar – D

Way too soft with the puck in the defensive zone most of the night, and not sure what he was doing on the late game-tying goal by Thomas. In overtime, really wanted him to shoot when he was coming down the slot, rather than dishing off to Byram away from the slot.

Josh Manson – C

Good on the penalty kill. Sloppy with the puck at times, but generally fine and low event in his time on the ice.

Alex Newhook – C

Noticeable moment from him was the rush at the end of the first where he got around Bortuzzo and tried to go between the legs on his chance. After that, I don’t think I noticed him at all. He doesn’t have a shot on net in two games, which is something he struggled generating at times during the regular season.

Valeri Nichushkin – F

One of the more disappointing games I’ve seen from Val. Turnovers in the defensive zone and along the wall, including one right before the third Blues goal.

Logan O’Connor – D

Cannot be taking penalties like that in a game where the fourth line really did not do anything at all.

Mikko Rantanen – D-

Got an assist on the MacK goal, and was robbed by Husso at the end of the first period, but zero shots on goal at even strength. At some point, they need him to play like the guy who made scoring goals look easy a good chunk of the year.

Devon Toews – D

It’s been a tough go for Toews. The turnovers, which we pretty much never saw from him, have really picked up the last two games. He was giving it away a good bit in the third period, and got lucky on a few other plays. Top pair needs to be better.