Avs Stanley Cup Final Game 5 Grades: Job's not finished

Bowen Byram – B

A nice bounce back from last game, where he started to come on late but didn’t have a good start. Pushed the play some more and got quite a few offensive zone starts with Makar. He still seems a little hesitant to shoot for some reason but is getting his looks and chances.

Andrew Cogliano – B

There were a couple of shifts where the fourth line was pinned in pretty good against TB’s fourth line, but nothing big really came of it. They were not on the ice for a shot against by Tampa.

J.T. Compher – F

Just a nightmare game for him. The early penalty to kill a lot of buzz in the building, and then the penalty to negate the power play he was about to draw. He had a play late where he just really put Byram in a tough position coming back as well.

Darren Helm – B-

Wish he could have gotten in front of the Kucherov shot but wasn’t able to get into the lane. At even strength, like Cogliano, the Lightning didn’t get a shot on net with him out there.

Erik Johnson – B-

Lightning did next to nothing with him on the ice. Didn’t manage to get any of his shots blocked, but also didn’t really take many shots.

Jack Johnson – C+

The memo must have been for him to get physical because he was hitting everything that moved, which earned him some more ice time. Threw a nice big hit on Bellemare pretty early and kept that going. Seeing him on the 4-on-3 penalty kill was…surprising.

Nazem Kadri – B

For a guy with one good thumb, he led the Avs in even strength shot attempts and shots on net. Seemed to not play much down the stretch, which is a little worrisome. Pat Maroon sure was taking some shots at that hand.

Darcy Kuemper – C-

Just barely under a .900 save percentage again, but the shot that caused that is one that absolutely needs to be stopped. The opening goal is ugly, and now it seems like everyone just has a bad goal a game on their mind. The game-winner was a tough shot in the spot Palat was in, but seeing it sneak through hurts a little more.

Gabriel Landeskog – D

Sloppy game with the puck. Had a good look in the slot in the second period and just could not corral the puck, and fumbled the pass away at the very end for a look to Makar that essentially ended the game. Honestly a little surprised they took him away from Kadri.

Artturi Lehkonen – D

Just a quiet night overall, and at even strength, it’s been a quiet series for him offensively. Without Burakovsky and Kadri not being 100%, they need a little more.

Nathan MacKinnon – C

He came out like gangbusters, but as the game wore on, it seemed like all the chances he was getting were purely from the perimeter. Put the puck right through Vasilevskiy’s legs on a mini break in the first. Want to see him attack the net, especially a guy like Cernak who couldn’t even finish last game.

Cale Makar – C+

The goal was a little lucky but seeing as how he’s struggled to get pucks through this series, a nice bounce for him. Goofy assist but you take it. Issue is he’s been on the ice for 7 even-strength goals in the last three games. He looked a little lost on the game-winning goal. 

Josh Manson – C

Seems to get caught on these long shifts…a lot. Pretty far and away the low man on defense in terms of shot share. Some turnovers in the defensive zone, which he’ll be guilty of from time to time.

Alex Newhook – D

I’m really tough on Newhook right now because he has the talent to do more, but he looks soft and slow and Tampa ate up the third line. I do think it’s fair to wonder if he’s just exhausted after a long season as a pro, playing more games than he’s come close to playing in recent years.

Valeri Nichushkin – B

Huge goal in the second and a battle in front of the net to help create the second goal as well, Unfortunately, running around a good bit on the third goal like everyone else that was on the ice.

Logan O’Connor – D

No shot attempts at even strength, ugly shot share and spent most of the night in his own end. Had some rough attempted clears along the walls.

Mikko Rantanen – C-

With the net empty, just a brutal pass to Lehkonen in the slot, behind him and while he’s covered by about three Tampa players. There’s got to be a better look than that. Didn’t like his game most of the evening.

Nico Sturm – INC

Have to go with the incomplete because the guy didn’t even play five minutes. Seemed banged up early after he took a tough hit and also got hit into an open door in the first period.

Devon Toews – C-

Game-winning goal started in the offensive zone with a pinch from Toews where he lost the puck along the wall, starting the breakout the other way. Something has to be wrong with his upper body because the turnovers that he’s had in the postseason are not what we’ve seen from him in the past.