Adrian Dater
When the Lightnin’ strikes – Aerosmith
AVALANCHE REPORT CARD, GAME 4
Jack Johnson (C+) – Only played a little more than seven minutes. Tough to give much of a grade because of that, but I didn’t see much that would make me give a truly bad grade.
Erik Johnson (B) – Played nearly 17 mostly solid minutes. What a year he’s had for a guy who was thought by some to be washed up and/or too injury-prone.
Bo Byram (B+) – He had the puck a lot in the game. Almost won it in OT but hit the crossbar. Strong game overall.
Josh Manson (B) – Solid effort from No. 42. Was a bit scrambly in first period but had a strong rest of the game.
Devon Toews (A) – He had 45 Corsi events for, 23 against. That works. He was back to his safe, sure self again with the puck, although that first period was a bit of an adventure. But it was for pretty much everyone on the Avs.
Cale Makar (B) – He was on the ice for both Lightning goals, but he still did plenty of other good things out there. Tough to get on him about that second goal, too, a backhander from the circle.
Artturi Lehkonen (B+) – Helped set up Nazem Kadri’s game-winner. Was good on the forecheck, as usual.
Nathan MacKinnon (B+) – Like a lot of Avs players, got a lot better after a bad first period. He scored his first goal of the series.
Mikko Rantanen (B) – Got an assist and won 4-of-6 faceoffs. Only five goals in the playoffs, but he’s got a whopping 20 assists.
Gabe Landeskog (A) – I thought he was real good. Strong Corsi numbers and he won 17-of-26 faceoffs, taking all the draws on his line in lieu of Kadri.
Nazem Kadri (A+) – What else can you say? Was the hero in OT with a great goal. Played 19 solid minutes, especially defensively. Didn’t take a faceoff in the game, but didn’t need to with Landy doing what he did.
J.T. Compher (C) – Didn’t notice him a ton out there, didn’t have very good puck possession numbers. Only one shot and lost 8-of-11 faceoffs.
Logan O’Connor (B) – Almost scored late in the game on a breakaway. I thought he was perfectly fine out there.
Nico Sturm (B+) – It looked like he scored that tying goal in the third, but it went to Andrew Cogliano. Only played 8:09 but did some good things.
Valeri Nichushkin (B+) – Strong Corsi numbers, had some good chances. Didn’t get anything on the score sheet, but was a good contributor to the win.
Alex Newhook (C+) – No shots on net, didn’t play a ton. But, hey, he battled out there.
Darren Helm (B+) – Chipped in with an assist and had four more hits. He’s really had a good playoffs.
Andrew Cogliano (A) – Scored the tying goal and logged nearly a minute on the PK, doing good work. Great deadline pickup by Joe Sakic.
Darcy Kuemper (A-) – Hey, he got the job done. That Victor Hedman goal was one he’d want back I’m sure, but he made 37 saves in a big Stanley Cup Final game on enemy ice. Not easy to do. Assisted on the game-winner with a heads-up play.