Colorado Avalanche Player Grades for Playoff-Clinching Game

For the second season in a row, the Colorado Avalanche are heading to the post-season. Below are the player grades for the final home game of the regular season.

The Colorado Avalanche have clinched a playoff berth! For the second season in a row, they’re heading to the post-season. And in best teacherly fashion, I’m going to grade the players.

Guess what, boys, this teacher is giving you all an A! Certain players, though, deserve just a little bit more.

Colin Wilson: A+

Oh, man, Wilson occasionally flubbed it with the puck. And who cares? He earned an assist on Tyson Barrie’s goal!

Samuel Girard: A+

Sammy has become a beast. He took a punch right in the kisser by Tyler Myers and didn’t even flinch. Ok, he flinched, but he also drew a penalty. And, he earned an assist on Carl Soderberg’s game-tying goal!

Nikita Zadorov: A+

Big Z is a love him or hate him kind of player, usually in the same game. Our wild mustang managed not to take any penalties, though he did lay some big hits. He also earned an assist on Tyson Barrie’s goal. He also released a grammatically incorrect but so-awesome tweet:

I mean, that tweet alone deserves its own post.

Philipp Grubauer: A++

Remember when we had a goalie controversy of both goalies slumping? Yeah, me either in the wake of our current goalie brilliance. Grubi made some sick saves. Here’s one of the best:

I thought that was going in, but Grubi said, “Nein!”

Nathan MacKinnon: A++

The Colorado Avalanche’s MVP didn’t get any goals tonight, but he was buzzing around the ice and giving Connor Hellebuyck nightmares. He also earned the lone assist on Erik Johnson’s game-winning goal!

Tyson Jost: A++

Tyson still forechecks like a bulldog. He had some incredible chances — this is a kid who doesn’t give up until well after the buzzer sounds. He also suffered this:

Like, seriously, the kid went flying through the air… just to be met by a giganta-goon in Winnipeg blue (Patrik Laine). But, ultimately, he also earned an assist on Soderberg’s game-tying goal.

Tyson Barrie: A+++

It didn’t look like the Colorado Avalanche were going to get this one. And then Tyson Barrie went all rover on the situation and did this:

At the time the Colorado Avalanche were down 2-0. But Barrie broke open the scoring. By the way, with that goal Barrie ties his career-high in goals (14), and he’s already surpassed his career-best in points (59).

That points total ties Ray Bourque in the Stanley Cup season, and that’s just a little ridiculous. Never mind trading T-Brat — sign him to an extension!

Carl Soderberg: A++++

Big Ole Carl got the game-tying goal midway through the third period. At that point, we all knew the Colorado Avalanche could clinch a wild card spot with just a single point — ie., an overtime scenario. Soderberg’s goal made that a reality:

It also meant the majority of Avs Nation held its breath for almost 10 minutes of hockey, but so be it.

Matt Calvert: E

The E here is for “eek!” Talk about taking one for the team, Calvert did just that:

He blocked a shot with just seconds left in the regulation game. Said blocking may have just saved the game. It probably also means Calvert will be walking funny tomorrow.

Erik Johnson: X

If you’ve ever read Avs insider Adrian Dater’s player grades, you’ll know he saves the X for singularly filthy performances. That was Erik Johnson tonight. He didn’t have to give up quite as much as Calvert, but he still blocked an all-important shot:

He also made the game-winning goal!

Granted, the Colorado Avalanche had clinched a playoff berth with the tie, but a win feels even better. And that goal was so beautiful, you can guarantee it will get its own post.

Also, our alternate captain released this, slightly more measured tweet than Big Z’s:

Our Viking captain was… slightly less measured:

The Condor:

Ok, let’s be a little more level-headed… nope! The Colorado Avalanche are heading to the Stanley Cup playoffs with a hot goalie and some hot firepower in the skaters. Attention, playoffs, we’re coming in hot.

As of right now, the Colorado Avalanche are set to face the Calgary Flames in the first round. We didn’t have good luck against the Flames in the regular season (0-3-0), but this is the playoffs, and anything can happen.

We’ve got spring hockey, Avs Nation, and that’s something to celebrate.