Avalanche Grades in Game 3 Win in St. Louis

Bluer than Blue

Avs grades from Game 3 in the Lou:

Bowen Byram: B+ – He was a plus two and controlled puck well on the line. He played 17 minutes and had three shots. Husso had to respect him on Lehkonen’s goal because he was coming down fast.

Erik Johnson: B – With Girard going out early, all of the defensemen had to step and they did. 18 minutes for The Condor. Won the trade.
Devon Toews: A – Over 30 minutes played and three shots. Nothing on the score sheet but played well defensively and offensively. Does he get credit for the Blues first goal?

Cale Makar: A- – Looked like he found his legs. He was skating well and dancing on the blue line in the offensive zone. Got his first point of the series.

Andrew Cogliano: B- 1:28 played on the penalty kill and did his job tonight. That’s all you need from guys like him.

Valeri Nichushkin: B+ – He plays so big and he had a golden opportunity on the breakaway. With some of the other guys struggling to get on the scoreboard, he’s been consistent.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel: C – Meh. I thought he was kind of average out there tonight. Needs to find a way to contribute offensively again.

Logan O’Connor: A – Provided the first-period spark period needed. Great shot and great energy. That’s how you make an impact in the playoffs. Great decision by Jared Bednar to put him in – with hindsight being 20/20, of course!

Nathan MacKinnon: C – Not scoring of late, trying to do too much. He needs to let the game come to him and his talent, instead of overdoing it on nights like tonight. 

J.T. Compher: B – Led the way for faceoff wins. He was 67% going 8-4. Again, puck possession is key.

Josh Manson: B+ – Great play to catch the puck in the air and drop it to his stick. I wasn’t a huge fan of his penalty early in the first but it felt like he was trying to make a statement.

Darren Helm: B- – Game in and game out he brings a physical element to the team that no one else does. He led the team again with five hits tonight.

Sam Girard : NA – Nasty, nasty hit. He has a broken sternum and is out the rest of the season. He had his head down on the hit. It’s too bad, because Sam’s puck-possession will be missed. 

Artturi Lehkonen : A+ – What a shot! He had five shots and two goals. Again, the trade deadline pick ups are paying off in big ways.

Nazem Kadri: A+ – This was the game the Avs needed from him and what he needed for himself. I don’t want to hear about the Binnington hit. It was a clean one and he was going for the loose puck. But that won’t stop Craig Berube and Doug Armstrong from crying up a storm in the next two days probably. Cry us a river, boys.

Gabe Landeskog: A – Again you have to capitalize on the opportunities when they are handed to you. I think it’s a bit worrisome that the Captain isn’t skating at practices these days. But as long as he can answer the bell for a game, that’s good enough for now I guess.

Andre Burakovsky: C – Played only 9:35 tonight. I wish we saw more out of him. But he’s not really earning more ice time. His offense is not being utilized very well, but that’s on him too. It’s hard for Jared Bednar to put him in the top-six when he’s not scoring, and Artturi Lehkonen is scoring.

Mikko Rantanen: B – Added another assist tonight but still seems off. The shots aren’t going in. He seems like he’s squeezing the stick some.

Darcy Kuemper: B+ – Rebounds are killer. The Blues will capitalize on it every time. But overall he had a solid game and the team in front of him played better. He gave the Blues nothing in the third.