Avalanche grades in Game 4 win over Blues

These little town blues…

Jack Johnson: B – You wouldn’t have known he hadn’t played all playoffs. Strong solid performance. Friendly reminder Joe Sakic signed him to a PTO contract at the start of the season.

Bo Byram: A – I felt like he handled the added responsibility perfectly. Smart, clean passes and solid defensively. Added two apples as well.

Erik Johnson: A – Got the Avs on the board with a huge goal. The Avs were pressuring all game but couldn’t get one in. It started the onslaught and got things going. To me, this is when veteran leadership pays off .

Devon Toews: B – Silly turnover behind the net that led to the Blues goal. But he made up for it with his own goal. Over 25 minutes played and a plus-two.

Cale Makar: B- He had some classic juke moves that left some Blues in his wake. Hasn’t had a “breakout” series still numbers-wise like he did against Nashville, but you have a feeling it’s coming.

Andrew Cogliano: C+ – Not a lot from him but that’s not a bad thing. Took an 86 mph slapper to the foot and came back out and killed a penalty. Why? Because it’s playoff hockey ladies and gents.

Valeri Nichushkin: B+ – Had a couple of new linemates with Mikko Rantanen and Nazem Kadri. Finished with two assists and a plus-three. He’s having himself a quietly good postseason.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel: B – He didn’t play a ton but when he was out there, he was strong on his stick and got the puck deep into the Blues zone.

Alex Newhook: B+ – Great pass to Johnson that led to the Avs first goal. Another great move by Bednar. He’s not afraid to shake up the lines even after a win.

Logan O’Connor: B – With 3 minutes left in the second, he led the team with four shots on net and he ended the game with the same amount as MacKinnon, Johnson and Rantanen.

Nathan MacKinnon: C – He wasn’t as impactful as his normal self, but it wasn’t a bad game. The top guys seem to be trying a little too hard and forcing it a little too much. Still looking for first goal of series.

J.T. Compher: B- – Played well on the power play and skated through the neutral zone with ease. He was 50% in the faceoff dot too.

Josh Manson: B – He had a couple of shots but the penalty kill really struggled tonight. I really liked his effort in the last 5 minutes of the game though. He was diving, playing with different sticks, everything.

Darren Helm: C+ – Took a costly penalty that led to the Blues’ second goal of the game. I know it’s cliché but penalties will hurt you the most in the playoffs.

Artturi Lehkonen: C – He was on the top line tonight. He just couldn’t seem to get on the same page as MacKinnon and Landeskog.

Nazem Kadri: X – A game so great it deserves the X rating for being obscene. I don’t think I’ve been happier for a guy to score a hat trick. He definitely had a target when the game was 4-1 and kept it clean. He pulled the Blues’ hearts out with his third goal.

Gabe Landeskog: C – This wasn’t the Mack, Mikko and Landy show that’s for sure. Didn’t notice him much tonight.

Mikko Rantanen: C+ – I wasn’t overly impressed with his passing or shooting tonight. Everything just seemed off. He’s gotta get something going. Big games are for the big players. He’s a big player.

Darcy Kuemper: B – Another tough game for multiple reasons. Three goals on 20 shots is not good. Simply put. He redeemed himself when he made his save of the series in the last three minutes.