Avs/Stars Grades - Inevitable letdown

The Colorado Avalanche failed to continue their winning ways as they slogged through a sloppy performance in Dallas in a 3-1 loss to the Stars.

How did each player grade out? Let’s take a look…

Sven Andrighetto (B-) – Andrighetto followed up his two-assist performance last night with a quiet game tonight. Didn’t get beat up at even strength and was involved in some chances but also had some weak play along the wall that ended offensive possession for Colorado.

Mark Barberio (D) – Not the best showing for Barberio as he got beat up at even strength and a handful of questionable puck decisions played into those results. Had one sequence where he dumped the puck into the offensive zone and was too hesitant to follow the puck, leading to a quick clear from the Stars. Sharper decision-making is key for a guy whose spot in the lineup is in question.

Tyson Barrie (C-) – Colorado’s power play was lacking teeth tonight and Barrie’s own lackluster play was a factor in that. Failed to register a single shot on goal despite being on the ice for 25 minutes and his own questionable decision trying to hold a puck in at blue line led to Andrighetto holding penalty that ended in the game-winning goal. Did have a nice assist on the Duchene goal as he created space before finding No. 9.

Chris Bigras (B) – Another quiet night for Bigras but file this under “quietly effective”. Only logged 12:14 TOI but was one of the few Avs players on the positive side of shot attempts as Dallas only registered five shot attempts while Bigras on the ice.

Blake Comeau (C+) – Had his usual ups and downs as he made some nice things happen on offense and tallied two shots on goal but also took a lazy, albeit soft, slashing penalty. Ended up breaking even in shot attempts at even strength.

J.T. Compher (C) – Played an unfortunate role in the game-winning role for the Stars as he ultimately failed to clear the puck from the zone (even if he was being held by Benn). Had a mini-breakaway he failed to score on. Needs to capitalize on chances, especially in a game where Avs were struggling so much to generate any offense.

Matt Duchene (A-) – Duchene continued to play hard and show up on the score sheet as he tallied Colorado’s only goal of the night with a nasty snipe about 90 seconds into the third period. Registered three shots on goal while playing just 15 minutes and could’ve had an assist had Compher scored on his mini-breakaway.

Erik Johnson (D) – Johnson gets a harsher grading curve because the team’s success is so heavily dependent on how he handles the enormous minutes being given to him. Tonight had its moments but his lack of situational awareness on the game-winning goal stands out as the kind of glaring mistake that likely cost his team two points tonight. He was a catalyst for a lot of good tonight but it was all undone by the enormous mistake at the end of the second period.

Alexander Kerfoot (C) – A quiet night for Kerfoot as he never had much of an opportunity to showcase the magical passing ability he possesses. His work on the power play was far too passive as teams are already adjusting to his reticence to shoot the puck and clogging passing lanes. Kerfoot needs to start firing more pucks at the net in order to keep defenses honest.

Gabriel Landeskog (B-) – Another night, another heavy load for Landeskog as he played over 21 minutes again tonight. While his work at even strength left something to be desired, his tough matchups continue to define his role. He still got four shots on goal, two hits, and blocked four shots as he spent over four minutes on both the power play and penalty kill units.

Nathan MacKinnon (B) – I was tempted to give MacKinnon and ‘A’ simply for being healthy enough to play after last night’s injury scare but real points were lost tonight so no feel-good stories here. His line continues to struggle to find a rhythm at even strength but they keep driving possession the correct way enough to justify letting them continue to work through the kinks.

Patrik Nemeth (C) – A tough night to judge Nemeth as he got obliterated alongside Barrie at even strength but his steadiness continues to play an important role on their back end and his fight with Tyler Seguin was enjoyable for everyone. Left the game early with an undisclosed injury.

Matt Nieto (C) – Nieto was okay in his second straight game back in the lineup as Tyson Jost continues to heal his hyperextended knee. He logged a shot on goal but also made some questionable decisions with the puck early on. He managed to stay out of the penalty box and was part of an effective night for Colorado’s fourth line.

Mikko Rantanen (C-) – The passive approach that dogged Rantanen early last season seems to have followed him into this year as well. He looks out of sync at even strength and isn’t as strong on the puck as you’d like for a player with his size and skill. Rantanen did have one dangerous scoring chance on the power play but Ben Bishop went post-to-post and made the save.

Carl Soderberg (B+) – I liked Soderberg’s game tonight. He was the catalyst for an effective fourth line and made several heady passes that led to opportunities for his teammates. While he did not record a shot himself, he managed to break even at even strength.

Semyon Varlamov (A-) – Hard to fault Varlamov for the two goals given up as Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, two of the NHL’s premier goal scorers, scored in advantageous positions. Varlamov kept Colorado in it and the loss going to his name is a reminder why assigning wins and losses to goaltenders is silly. Varlamov continues to prove he is completely healthy and ready to return to the ranks of the NHL elite.

Colin Wilson (B+) – Arguably his best game as an Av, Wilson scored his first point in a Colorado uniform tonight as his pass to Barrie started the whole sequence that led to Duchene’s goal. Finished the game with 60% CF on a night few Avs broke 50. Though limited in ice time, he continues to find ways to be effective even when he isn’t scoring.

Nail Yakupov (D-) – By far the worst showing of Yakupov’s time in Colorado. He got crushed at even strength as only two shot attempts were generated with him on the ice tonight and he failed to record a shot on goal for himself. Seemed to be skipped over a time or two in the third period as the team was trying to get back into it.

Nikita Zadorov (F) – He handled his even strength minutes well enough as he nearly broke even but he took three different penalties on the night and was far too casual in retrieving the puck with Varlamov pulled for the extra attacker before eventually losing the battle for the puck that never should have happened. A frustrating night that makes you wonder if he’ll ever fully put it together.

Colorado continues its two-game road trip with a contest in Nashville to take on the Predators on Tuesday night. Puck drop is at 6:00 PM Mountain.