Avs Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Grades: Lucky 13

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – D

The same issues that have plagued him in the postseason continued to plague him, with poor zone exits and decisions in the defensive zone.

Andre Burakovksy – A

His turning radius looks a little shot, but nice to see him come up with a huge goal. Had the best shot share percentage on the team, and had a few really nice zone entries that led to chances. The break probably was huge for him, and without Kadri, they need him producing. Made a sweet touch feed to Compher for his mini-break.

Bowen Byram – B

There were a few things I didn’t love, but for the most part, he was very good again. He overstayed his shift length a few times to jump into the play, and it nearly burned him. The rush up the ice on the opening goal is what this team is built around and what they’ll continue to need moving forward. Seems like he’s a guy primed to score a huge goal given how close he’s been getting.

J.T. Compher – B+

He might be thinking shot next time on a breakaway against Vasilevsky. That poke check looked easy. Really solid game from Compher, stealing the puck in the neutral zone on the game-winner. The makeshift second line held their own.

Darren Helm – B

Who had the Avs in the Stanley Cup Finals using Darren Helm as their 3C? I certainly did not. He didn’t have the best night in terms of shot share, but he was the most physical forward on the team by far and had a great forecheck early for a good look.

Erik Johnson – C-

Of the defenders, EJ struggled the most. Got caught flat-footed on the first Tampa goal, and had some tough failed clears. I liked the thought process in the second period when he was skating in and almost hit MacKinnon in the slot for a nice one-timer.

Jack Johnson – C

He had a couple of iffy moments with the puck in his own end, but for the most part, was solid, and they used him a bit more tonight than they did against Edmonton. Nice hit on Hagel in the second.

Darcy Kuemper – C

He got it together after the third goal, which is all they really needed, but there were some scary moments. He had a few times playing the puck where he just didn’t look comfortable. Made a nice save on Stamkos on an odd-man rush early in the second. They don’t need him to be great, just good enough.

Gabriel Landeskog – B+

Very fitting for the Captain to get this thing started right by crashing the net. The only player on the team who was actually decent in the face-off circle as well. His goal was his only shot on net at even strength, because his two linemates were taking all the shots.

Artturi Lehkonen – C+

Nice tip-in for the goal. He looked to be cheating a bit by leaving the zone on the Sergachev goal, and then didn’t really block the lane on the shot. The third line is a pretty weird mix, and he was the only non-fourth liner to not register a shot attempt at even strength.

Nathan MacKinnon – A-

Erik Cernak looks like he’s going to have fun trying to cover MacK all series. The way MacK sent him into another dimension in the third period after a turnover was pretty good, and Cernak’s body is going to take a beating if he keeps getting in front of the one-timers. Great look to Nuke on his goal.

Cale Makar – B-

It took maybe 35 minutes for Makar to really get going. He had some issues skating early on and slipped a few times, but in the third period, started looking more like the Makar we are used to seeing. He knows he lost his guy on the Palat goal.

Josh Manson – B

Got away with a high-stick on Hedman in the second period when he was going on a rampage of hits, but if you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying. Physical play is why he was brought in, and he showed that in game one.

Alex Newhook – D+

Had one decent escape in the third period, and was surprised he saw the ice so late in the game. Just looks like a guy trying not to make a mistake, which is not when anyone plays their best hockey.

Valeri Nichushkin – A+

The best player on the ice from start to finish. His forecheck created two goals, his own and the game-winner. With each passing day, his price tag seems to be going up, and he’s one guy who I think the break really helped. At times in the Edmonton series, he looked banged up and slow. That wasn’t the case in game one. What a look on the winner.

Logan O’Connor – C+

Penalty was a fairly obvious call, and one you don’t really want one of your top PK guys taking. Team bailed him out, though. Failed to clear the puck on the Lightning third goal. Had a nice look into the slot for Lehkonen that he fanned on in the third period. Generally liked his hustle and puck protection for most of the night.

Mikko Rantanen – B+

Tried really hard to draw a few interference calls, but I don’t think he’s getting those against Tampa Bay. The playmaking ability was on display on the Lehkonen goal. That’s a quick decision and to top it off, he sent the pass at full speed right on the stick. Only Burky had better shot share numbers.

Nico Sturm – D+

I thought he might get his first goal with the Avs on his rush around the defender in the second but he failed to get a clean look off. Got smoked in the face-off circle.

Devon Toews -B

It takes Nikita Kucherov to make Devon Toews look human. That was really his only downfall in the game. Besides that goal, the top line for the Lightning really didn’t create much of anything in terms of shots on net.