Brennan Vogt
The Colorado Avalanche took on the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second half of the Global Series in Finland. The were looking to get back on track and get the four points as they did. Here are my player grades for the game on Saturday:
Nathan MacKinnon (A): Started a breakout that led to a pass to Artturi Lehkonen and the first goal of the night. Every breakout that happened for the Avalanche seemed to be led by MacKinnon today. In just under 20 minutes, he had three assists, four shots and one hit. MacKinnon was not great in the dot, however, winning only one of 10 faceoffs.
Artturi Lehkonen (A): He was on that 2-on-1 with MacKinnon and got his first goal since the opening game. MacKinnon made a pass over a sliding defenseman, a perfect dish, and Lehkonen finished it like a teenager at an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet.
Mikko Rantanen (B): Had a much quieter day than Friday, but that’s OK, which in Finnish is pronounced “OK.” Rantanen had an assist early in the game but had several key plays to help set up MacKinnon on the breakout on the wings.
Jacob MacDonald (C+): Took a spot on the second power play unit with Bo Byram out (lower-body). Coach Jared Bednar is showing some real trust in the utility player. In just under 12 minutes of time on the ice, MacDonald got one shot on goal.
Evan Rodrigues (B+): Used his speed to his advantage to get a breakaway in the second and got a good shot off. I can tell he is starting to get more comfortable because he is less hesitant. Had a beautiful pass through the slot to Newhook to set up a one-timer goal. Their chemistry is coming together finally.
Alex Newhook (A): Scored his second goal of the year with a one timer shot in the left faceoff circle. He was being drawn into the zone by Evan Rodrigues with the pass. Newhook is starting to settle in on the center role and its showing. Newhook had three shots on goal and won an impressive 67 percent of his draws.
Andrew Cogliano (B): He had his usual quiet night but still impactful in ways other than in numbers on a sheet. He finished with 12:39 of ice time, one block and one hit.
J.T. Compher (C+): J.T. had a beauty of a pass to Kurtis MacDermid in the first period, setting him up for a terrific shot on goal. But in 17 minutes of ice time, he did not manage one shot on goal. He did win 60% of his draws, though.
Logan O’Connor (A-): Got a redirected goal from Cale Makar’s shot on the blue line. LOC was aggressive and charged the net with his stick down and it paid off for him, knocking the puck down and getting the goal.
Mikhail Maltsev (B): Played well for his 10:51 of ice time with three shots on goal and one hit. He did not stand out as much, to me at least, as he had in the previous games though.
Dryden Hunt (C): Played a decent game. He did not stand out much in his 11:52 of ice time but he had two shots on goal and one hit.
Martin Kaut (A): Kauter! Gets his first of the year and third of his career, on a beautiful backhand. Yeah, the puck bounced in off the goalie’s back, but he’ll take it. Kaut had the assist on the Newhook goal as well (5th goal of the night). Are we starting to see the Kaut we all wanted to see? He had two points and three shots on net and recorded 14:16 of ice time, almost triple the amount he had been getting.
Devon Toews (A): Got his first goal of the year with essentially the same play that MacKinnon had with Lehkonen. Toews finished a great night with a goal and an assist to his record and an amazing plus-4.
Cale Makar (A+): He had a great shot that was redirected by O’Connor in front of the net gaining another assist. Later in the period he had a EJ like slide to break up a two on one and take away the pass. Makar had three assists before the third period even began.
Kurtis MacDermid (B+): Played well. He was playing conservative for the most part as a defenseman, He had a great play in the first that J.T, Compher passed to him in the low slot for a shot. MacDermid had a fight with Mathieu Olivier in the second that ended in a draw after a hit on MacKinnon. I always love to see him stick up for his teammates.
Josh Manson (C): Allowed the man down low during the power play that led to a redirected goal by Boone Jenner. Manson was too high in the zone and scrambled down late once he realized Jenner was there.
Sam Girard (B): Had a holding penalty on Zach Werenski in the first when they were caught in their own end on a long shift. Columbus capitalized on the power play unfortunately, tying the game. Other than that he played relatively well, cutting the forwards off and taking the puck right off of their sticks a few times.
Erik Johnson (B+): Had an on-point game defensively. He did his typical EJ slide to break up a few plays in the zone and his timing was right where it should be tonight. EJ finished the night with two shots on goal, one hit and three hits. He did this all and still was a plus-1 overall.
Alexandar Georgiev (A): Played another fantastic night in the crease allowing only one goal in 32 shots. The goal came off of a redirect on a shot from the point, so not much that he could have done for it. Georgiev is starting to get in a groove with the Avalanche, earning a .969 save percentage on the weekend.