Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Stays hot Wednesday
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Nichushkin scored a power-play goal on three shots, notched an assist and added two PIM in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Canucks.
This was Nichushkin's fourth straight two-point game. In that span, he has five goals and three helpers. He's up to eight tallies, 17 points (four on the power play), 50 shots on net, 20 hits and a plus-6 rating through 18 contests overall. The 28-year-old winger is capable of maintaining a hot streak as long as he's playing alongside Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon on the top line.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Another two-point effort
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Nichushkin tallied a goal and added an assist in Monday's 4-3 loss to Nashville.
Nichushkin set up Andrew Cogliano for a short-handed tally that opened the scoring in the first period before adding a goal on a power play in the second. The 28-year-old Nichushkin has scored in five of his last six games while recording three consecutive two-point performances. He's off to a great start alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen on Colorado's top line, logging seven goals and 15 points through his first 17 games.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Earns two points in win
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Nichushkin scored a goal on five shots, dished an assist, went plus-2, added three hits and blocked two shots in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Stars.
Nichushkin did it himself on the game-tying goal, going high to beat Jake Oettinger. Just over 10 minutes later, Nichushkin helped out on Mikko Rantanen's game-winner. With five goals and two helpers over his last six games, Nichushkin is thriving with more responsibility on the top line. He's up to six tallies, 13 points, 43 shots, 18 hits, 10 PIM and a plus-5 rating through 16 contests overall.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Scores twice in blowout win
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Nichushkin scored two goals on five shots and added two hits in Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Ducks.
One of Nichushkin's goals came on the power play. He's been effective with four goals and one assist over his last five contests, adding a plus-4 rating in that span. The 28-year-old winger has five goals, 11 points, 38 shots, 15 hits, 10 PIM and a plus-3 rating through 15 contests. His increased offense should continue as long as he's seeing top-line minutes alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Nets late power-play goal
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Nichushkin scored a power-play goal on four shots and added two PIM in Monday's 5-1 win over the Kraken.
Nichushkin got a piece of a Cale Makar shot to net the Avalanche's last goal Monday. With three points over his last four contests, Nichushkin is starting to find a groove. He's up to three goals, six helpers, 33 shots on net, 13 hits, 10 PIM and a plus-1 rating over 14 contests. His goal Monday was his first power-play contribution of the year after earning 16 of his 47 points with the man advantage last season.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Tallies Thursday
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Nichushkin scored a goal on three shots, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Kraken.
Nichushkin was initially questionable for this game after he and his wife welcomed a daughter Wednesday, but the winger was able to play. His goal tied the game at 3-3 in the third period, but the Avalanche weren't able to get to overtime. Nichushkin had gone eight games without a goal prior to Thursday's contest. He's at two tallies, six assists, 25 shots on net, 10 hits, eight PIM and a plus-3 rating through 12 contests. If Artturi Lehkonen (upper body) misses time, Nichushkin would be the logical choice to fill in on the top line.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Ready to rock
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Nichushkin (personal) will play Thursday versus the Kraken, Meghan Angley of DNVR Avalanche reports.
Nichushkin missed Wednesday's practice to be with his wife for the birth of their daughter, but he'll slot into his usual role skating on the second line and second power-play unit against Seattle. He's picked up one goal and seven points through 11 contests this campaign.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Misses practice for good reason
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Nichushkin did not practice Wednesday, because he was with his wife for the birth of their daughter, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
It's assumed Nichushkin will be back in time for Thursday's game against Seattle. The forward rebounded from a tough night Saturday (minus-4) with an assist and was a heavy forechecker during Tuesday's win over the Devils. Nichushkin has one goal (an empty netter), six assists and 22 shots on goal through 11 games.
Nichushkin posted a shorthanded assist, two shots on goal, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Devils.
Nichushkin set up Miles Wood's goal in the second period. The helper snapped a four-game point drought for Nichushkin, who went minus-6 with six shots on net and five hits in that span. The 28-year-old winger is up to seven points, 22 shots on net, 10 hits, six PIM and a plus-1 rating through 11 appearances, primarily playing in a second-line role this season. His reduced role both at even strength and on the power play has likely played a part in his modest scoring contributions.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Picks up two assists
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Nichushkin picked up two assists and four shots, helping the Avalanche to a 7-4 win over the Islanders on Tuesday.
Nichushkin picked up helpers on goals by Bowen Byram and Nathan MacKinnon. He also recorded four shots and a plus-1 rating on the evening. The Russian forward is currently on a five-game point streak with six points in that span. He should continue to play on the top line and second power-play unit moving forward.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Riding four-game point streak
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Nichushkin recorded an assist in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Hurricanes.
Nichushkin has a point in four straight games (one goal, three assists), accounting for all of his offense this season. He helped out on Nathan MacKinnon's second-period marker, which was the game-winner Saturday. Nichushkin has added three hits, 11 shots on goal, four PIM and a plus-4 rating while seeing steady playing time in the top six.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Provides helper in win
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Nichushkin recorded an assist and three shots on goal in Thursday's 4-0 win over the Blackhawks.
After a one-game stint on the first line, Nichushkin returned to the second line Thursday. The 28-year-old set up Devon Toews' second-period tally. Nichushkin has points in three straight games (one goal, two assists), accounting for all of his offense this season. He's added 11 shots on net, four PIM, three hits and a plus-3 rating through four contests.
Nichushkin scored an empty-net goal on three shots and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Kraken.
Nichushkin was moved to the top line after skating on the second unit the first two games. He was heavily involved in the buildup to the Avalanche's first goal but wasn't credited with an assist. Nichushkin would get on the scoresheet with the empty-netter, which was his second point in three games. The winger has found other ways to contribute with eight shots on net, four PIM, three hits and a plus-2 rating. As long as he's in a top-six role, Nichushkin should remain a productive complementary source of offense for the Avalanche.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Picks up assist
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Nichushkin notched an assist, three shots on goal, two hits and two PIM in Saturday's 2-1 shootout win over the Sharks.
Nichushkin not only set up Cale Makar on the Avalanche's only goal in regulation, he provided the screen to block Mackenzie Blackwood's view of the puck on the play. Through two contests, Nichushkin has worked on the second line, playing to mixed results. He has one assist, five shots on goal, three hits, four PIM and an even plus-minus rating so far. He's also on the second power-play unit, which may limit his chances to be a bigger contributor in the Avalanche's strong offense.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Makes preseason debut
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Nichushkin had one shot, one hit and a two-minute minor penalty over 19:35 of ice time in Tuesday's 3-1 preseason loss to Dallas.
Nichushkin, who left the team during last season's playoffs due to family reasons, made his preseason debut Tuesday. He should see plenty of minutes as a top-six forward. If he can remain healthy, the 28-year-old forward can provide Colorado with the depth scoring it needs to take pressure off Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Meets media at training camp
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Nichushkin addressed the media after Colorado's first day of training camp Thursday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
This was the first time Nichushkin was available for the media, but the Russian forward did not say much about the incident in Seattle that prompted him to leave the team during last season's NHL playoffs. "It was family reasons," he said. "I know you guys want to find something there but there's nothing really interesting. I think we should close it. It's a new season right now. We have to focus on that." The session lasted about two minutes. Many of his teammates expressed support for Nichushkin, who is expected to be a top-six forward for Colorado this season.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Clear for 2023-24
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Nichushkin (personal) will not be investigated by the NHL and is eligible to play in 2023-24, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
An incident involving police occurred in Seattle during the Avalanche's first-round series, and it caused Nichushkin to be away from the team. The winger was not charged nor considered criminally liable during the situation. He should be a top-six option for the Avalanche next year, especially with Gabriel Landeskog (knee) expected to miss a second full campaign.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Won't play Wednesday
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Nichushkin (personal) won't be available for Game 5 against Seattle on Wednesday, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Nichushkin, who is out indefinitely, will miss his third consecutive contest. It's unclear at this time when he will be ready to return to the Avalanche. Nichushkin has one goal, six shots on net and three hits in two appearances this postseason. During Nichushkin's absence, Matt Nieto has been playing on the second line.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: May not return this series
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Coach Jared Bednar isn't sure if Nichushkin (personal) will return during Colorado's first-round series versus the Kraken, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
The Avalanche and Seattle are all tied up at two games apiece, so there will be at least two more contests in the series, but Nichushkin's status for the rest of the first round remains up in the air due to a personal matter. The 28-year-old forward picked up a goal through the first two games of the series before stepping away from the team.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Out Monday
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Nichushkin (personal) is not in Monday's lineup against Seattle, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Nichushkin will miss a second straight game while he's away from the team. The Avalanche will be back in action for Game 5 on Wednesday.
