Avs Stanley Cup Final Game 4 Grades: Carry me home

Bowen Byram – C-

The first two periods, did not like Byram at all. The decision to pass up a good shot in the slot cost him, and he ended up taking a penalty getting back. Sloppy plays with the puck were happening consistently. In the third and OT, he looked like the guy we’ve seen most of the postseason and almost ended it himself with a crossbar.

Andrew Cogliano – B+

Who needs hands when you can just score with a knee? Huge goal just battling in front and obviously some good luck on his side. We saw how the hand affected his shot when he had a chance in the third later. Fourth line did pretty well after a slow start.

J.T. Compher – C

Pretty quiet night overall on a line that you are just hoping holds serve. Didn’t do great in the face-off circle and had a good chance in front of the net in the first and just missed the pass.

Darren Helm – B-

Took a penalty early in the game after he flubbed a pass in the neutral zone, so probably out of frustration. Once the game got closer, he got better and was on for some big face-off wins late. Nice shot pass on the tying goal.

Erik Johnson – C

Like most of the team, had major issues getting his shot through, with numerous attempts getting blocked out high. Overall, he broke even.

Jack Johnson – C

I, for one, didn’t have an issue with how he played the Hedman goal. He was tired, and if there’s a shot you want to force, it’s a backhand going wide rather than anything in the slot. He really didn’t play much overall, with only 7:31 the whole game.

Nazem Kadri – A

You couldn’t have written it any better. He was actually really good in the short game, with quick passes that sprung some zone time for his team, but you could tell he wasn’t super confident in his shot. The overtime winner, though, was a thing of beauty, and it was the first time all game that he was skating with a purpose where he wanted the puck on his stick.

Darcy Kuemper – A-

Only downer was the second goal, which he probably wants back, but he kept the Avs in it early when they did not come out playing very well. The Lightning sure are targeting around the head with their shots, and his big body was just blocking them. Heads up play on the game-winning goal.

Gabriel Landeskog – A-

Landy was an animal all game long. Didn’t nab anything on the scoresheet, but hard work everywhere, great work on the back check and in the defensive zone, and a nice safety blanket for Kadri in his return. He also completely dominated in the face-off circle.

Artturi Lehkonen – B+

Huge breakout pass on the game-winner. Nearly had the winner himself on a deflection early in the overtime, and had a nice mini breakaway look in the second that he tried to sneak down low.

Nathan MacKinnon – B

You don’t care how you get them, just that they go in. He’s had plenty of good looks, so nice to see him get one. Sloppy start to the game, as he was lost in front of his net on the first goal, and I don’t know what the heck happened at the end of the second where he just kind of shut down. Didn’t overall have a great faceoff game but did come up huge with some wins late. I’ve been writing in every game that he’s trying to break Cernak, and it appears he finally did.

Cale Makar – C+

Was out there for both goals against, even if he didn’t have much to do with them, but the Lightning, for the second straight game, really are playing him tightly at the point and he’s having issues getting a lot of shots through. He eventually broke through for a few but they’re doing a good job containing him.

Josh Manson – B

Toughed it out on an absolute marathon shift in the second period, and a diving play stopped a good chance at one point. He was doing a good job in overtime moving the play forward and keeping the Lightning hemmed in.

Alex Newhook – C+

He learned his lesson in the second when he tried to stickhandle at the blue line and turned it over, leading to Manson and Makar being stuck on the ice for several minutes because late he was making sure it got deep. Like most of the team, was at his best in OT, with a great look to O’Connor.

Valeri Nichushkin – A

Speaking of overtime animal, Nuke was the best player on the ice, creating several chances and causing havoc all over the place. Hedman had a tough time containing him all night, and Stamkos had to take a penalty after Nuke walked big 77 in the second.

Logan O’Connor – B

Was almost the hero in overtime with a breakaway but it wasn’t meant to be. Had some good plays on the penalty kill in a bit of a different role than he’s played most of the postseason.

Mikko Rantanen – C+

Picked up his standard assist on the power play. Not sure if he was trying to pass backdoor or just shooting for a rebound but it worked. That was his only shot of the night. Had some nice wins in the face-off circle without Landy there to help MacK.

Nico Sturm – B

It’s a good thing Cogliano was there because Sturm’s backhand looked like it was probably sailing well wide. No one cares, though. A huge time to pick up one of his biggest points with the team.

Devon Toews – B

He was awful in the first period and was worried we’d get a repeat of last game. Then he settled down and dominated the play. Seriously, the Avs dominated the puck with him on the ice, attempting a whopping 45 shots in his 30 minutes of five on five time. Far and away the highest defender in terms of shot share.