Avalanche player grades in 2-0 win over Vegas

Viva, Las Vegas

Jack Johnson: B – Quiet night for the Johnsons. But did a good job on the Vegas front and shutting them down in the third. 

Erik Johnson: B – He had six attempted shots and four hits. When you shut out Vegas, it’s always a good night.

Devon Toews: A – When things get crazy in the offensive zone, Toews is the calm voice of reason. Great poise and decision

Cale Makar: A+ – Kept the puck in and whipped it to Landeskog. It was a rolling puck too. No challenge for Makar. Six points in six games for Makar. 

Valeri Nichushkin: C – Even when he has the puck he’s trying to go through the opposing team. Four hits and almost 19 minutes played. 

Nicolas Aube-Kubel: C – 8 minutes played and a couple of hits. Love his consistent energy. 

Tyson Jost: C- –He wasn’t noticeable tonight and had no shots, hits or really anything. 

Alex Newhook C+: A fast-paced game like tonight calls for the guys to keep up and compete. He looked decent out there early on. 

Logan O’Connor: C+ – Still in a scoring drought but added five hits tonight.

Nathan MacKinnon: A – Scary hit in the first on Nolan Patrick. He never gives on the play and creates opportunities when most players would have given up. Beautiful passing tonight as well. 

J.T. Compher: B – Back-checked hard tonight and had a couple of shots. His line matched Vegas’s intensity and speed.

Darren Helm: C+ – Almost 8 minutes played and a couple of hits. He keeps trucking on.

Sam Girard: B+ – Looked really good deep in his own zone. He would make a couple of moves and get it out. He had five blocked shots as well.

Kurtis MacDermid: B – Little over 7 minutes played. He’s getting better every night.

Nazem Kadri: C+ – He had a couple of shots on a mostly quiet night. I would love to see him really get going on the power play. But that’s nitpicking some.

Gabe Landeskog: A+- Pinged it off the post and it rolled away from the goal line. Powerful shot from the captain that broke the 0-0 tie. Big player make big plays. 

Andre Burakovsky: B – He played fast tonight. There was almost a costly turnover early in the first but Vegas couldn’t capitalize.

Mikko Rantanen: A – Came out firing and simmered down in the second. This felt like a chess game for the most. He put the game away with his 25th of the season.

Darcy Kuemper: A+ -This was a big test. He stayed square to the puck and in position. Made some huge saves and kept the team in it. Back-to-back shutouts for #35.