Avs player grades from easy win over Wild

Well, how does a combined 11-1 score for the two-game series between the Avs and Wild work for ya, Avs fan? That was a dominant two games of hockey the Avs dished out to the Wild. Let’s do some grades:

Gabe Landeskog (A) – Another superb game, with a goal and two helpers. He’s been terrific of late. That goes for the defensive side of the puck too.

Nathan MacKinnon (A) – Three assists on the game, six points for the series. Is that good?

Mikko Rantanen (A) – Another goal. That makes 17 on the season now. He’s really dialed things up lately. Wild had no answer for him in the two games.

Brandon Saad (A-) – Had an assist and put four shots on net. His line was good defensively.

Nazem Kadri (B+) – No points on the score sheet, but he won 6-of-10 faceoffs and, like the rest of his line, was good defensively.

Andre Burakovsky (B) – Didn’t notice him much today, but oh well. It was a 6-0 game. Still skating real well these days.

J.T. Compher (C) – No points, no shots. Played only a little more than 11 minutes. Lots of fans were upset he took Logan O’Connor’s spot in the lineup.

Tyson Jost (A) – Scored off a nice slap shot that made the game 4-0. Also won 7-of-10 faceoffs.

Joonas Donskoi (A) – Had two assists and was excellent defensively. He breaks up a lot of plays in the neutral zone with his defensive presence.

P.E. Bellemare (B+) – Was foiled on a breakaway. He was active with his stick defensively and helped shut down Minnesota’s power play.

Valeri Nichushkin (A) – Scored a very nice goal, off the rush. Former Av Ian Cole flubbed a puck at his own blue line, and Nichushkin went from there.

Matt Calvert (B) – Still looking for some offense. But he’s contributing in other ways, as he usually does.

Jacob MacDonald (A) – Made a big block that probably saved a goal, on a Wild power play. He’s been very good so far.

Cale Makar (A) – Got the scoring started and added an assist in a little more than 21 minutes of work.

Ryan Graves (A) – Two assists for Gravy and strong work in his own end. He’s been excellent since the early part of the season.

Bo Byram (A-) – Good, solid game for No. 4. He went a plus-1 and had three hits.

Sam Girard (A) – A plus-2, playing more than 21 minutes. That works.

Devon Toews (A) – Scored a goal and was a plus-3. He’s a great player.

Philipp Grubauer (A) – Another shutout, his fifth of the season. Playing the best hockey of his career. Now, he’s got a new backup too.