Avs Round Robin Game 2 Grades: Sakic's guys flourish

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – B+

The fourth line that was hyped up through camp was put together again tonight, with Nieto coming back in, and it did not disappoint. Constant puck hounds and Bellemare was great all night, including matching up against Seguin time to time.

Andre Burakovsky – A

Well, he was demoted and hadn’t looked good since entering the bubble. He changed that tonight. He was a different player right from puck drop, and that third line controlled a lot of the play. He nearly scored early on a two on one, and missed an empty net in the second, but didn’t disappoint with a bar down goal in the third period. That’s more like it.

Matt Calvert – A

You have to love the effort of a guy who, in the third period, up four goals, is diving on the forecheck to keep the play alive for his team. He was missed when he was hurt.

Ian Cole – B-

Cole was a bit of an adventure early in the game but settled down big time in the second and third period overall. His pinches in the offensive zone, playing on his off-side, are always so smart.

J.T. Compher – B+

Another guy who needed a bounce-back game was JTC, and he did so in a big way. I’m not sure how he missed a wide-open net in the second period, but a strong night overall, and a big face-off win just prior to Donskoi’s goal.

Joonas Donskoi – B+

Speaking of Donskoi, you have to love him not even letting the Khodobin get a chance in Girard’s point shot, and just stopping the shot himself and putting it on his backhand for the goal. That’s a super-skilled play that takes great hands, and he made it look easy.

Pavel Francouz – A+

It doesn’t get better than a shutout in your playoff debut. The goalies sure aren’t making the decision easy for Bednar, but I’m not sure he minds it too much.

Samuel Girard – A

Talk about domination. With Girard on the ice, the Avs controlled the puck at will, and kudos to him for getting his shot through on the Donskoi play, something he hasn’t always excelled at. Great work on the breakout, as usual, from the guy, and that pair has been strong through two games.

Ryan Graves – B

This pair was a little wild, giving up chances in their own end, as well as being on the ice for a lot of chances for. Graves was relatively quiet, but he’s obviously settled into the role of letting Makar do his thing when he’s on (which he was).

Erik Johnson – A

The break looks like it was a good thing for EJ’s legs, as he’s moving really well out there and jumping into the play. A really strong, steady game from the big dog, and the Avs having options on defense gives him a little more juice in his legs. 78% CF…no big deal.

Nazem Kadri – B+

Another dominating possession game from the Avs new second line. Kadri could have had a goal early in the game, only to be stopped by Johns’ butt. Some of his passes were a little off, but that trio put on a clinic down low.

Gabriel Landeskog – B

Okay Landy, enough with the penalties. This one, I don’t mind as much because it was late in a blowout, but five in three games is not a good start. Other than that, he was a horse at both ends again, and he and Nuke on the same line is unfair for defensemen.

Nathan MacKinnon – A-

One of these days he’ll bust through with some goals, but it’s not for a lack of effort. Multiple “Grade A” chances with nothing to show for it, but picked up an assist to stay on the scoresheet. That line did run around a little bit defensively at times, but dynamite offensively.

Cale Makar – A

This was almost the opposite of his game on Sunday. I thought he was a little sloppy defensively in this one, but holy cow was he moving offensively. He could have had multiple goals in this one, and was not afraid to both carry the puck up the ice himself, or jump into the play in the zone. A dynamic offensive showing.

Vladislav Namestnikov – A-

I wondered in grades after last game if he’d get a shot on the top line, and sure enough, he got his chance and didn’t disappoint. Could have had multiple points, as he set up MacK on a two on one that was stopped, but made a subtle smart play stopping at the net on his goal that really ended things. A good night for him.

Valeri Nichushkin – B+

Sure, he isn’t going to light it up offensively, and his passes are a little off, but what a monster defensively and on the forecheck. He even brought the dangles around a defenseman just prior to drawing a penalty in the second.

Matt Nieto – B+

I have a hard time seeing Jost getting back in next game after that performance from the fourth line. They were relentless, and Nieto played a big part in that with his speed. A strong debut.

Mikko Rantanen – A-

Oh boy, Mikko had it going tonight, especially in the third, when he decided he wanted to embarrass the Stars with his puck control. He drew two penalties in this one, and even if his shot is a little off, you have to be encouraged by his play after a longer break than the rest of the guys. Great defensive play early in this one covering for his teammate who got beat. Not something you see from Mikko every day.

Nikita Zadorov – B

Through two games, Z has been pretty physically engaged, which is what they need, and considering he’s the sixth defenseman right now, he’s been able to be super low event overall. Stayed out of the box for the first time in the bubble.