Nichushkin (illness) will not be in the lineup versus Winnipeg on Thursday, Marc Moser of Altitude Sports 950 reports.
Nichushkin is putting together a strong start to the campaign with 21 points in 24 contests to open the season, including six power-play points. At this rate, Nichushkin could top his career-best 52-point campaign he recorded back in 2021-22 as long as he's able to remain relatively healthy.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Won't suit up
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Nichushkin (illness) is not expected to play Tuesday versus the Ducks, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
There was optimism Nichushkin would be able to go Tuesday, but he'll wind up sitting out. With Cale Makar (lower body) and Andrew Cogliano (lower body) both out, Kurtis MacDermid and Oskar Olausson will both get into the lineup, while Logan O'Connor figures to pick up the bulk of Nichushkin's playing time.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Dealing with illness
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Nichushkin (illness) is expected to be a game-time decision Tuesday versus Anaheim, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.
Nichushkin didn't take part in Tuesday's morning skate, but the team is hopeful that he will be able to play against the Ducks. He has racked up 10 goals, 21 points, 65 shots on net and 29 hits through 24 contests this campaign. If Nichushkin can't play, Kurtis MacDermid could slot into the lineup.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Helps on power play
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Nichushkin recorded a power-play assist, three shots on net, one blocked shot and one hit over 25:00 of ice time in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Coyotes.
Nichushkin, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar had a little game of pass along the wall before Makar struck for the game's first goal. In addition to the secondary assist, Nichushkin helped by providing the screen of Connor Ingram. It was the first assist on the power play for Nichushkin, who also has five tallies while up a skater. The Avalanche would like to see what the Russian forward can do over a full year with good health; he hasn't played more than 65 games in any of the last five seasons. Overall, Nichushkin has 10 goals, 21 points, 60 shots on net, 25 hits, nine blocks and 12 PIM through 22 games.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Extends streak with empty-netter
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Nichushkin scored an empty-net goal on two shots and added three hits in Monday's 4-1 win over the Lightning.
Nichushkin's tally in the third period kept his point streak alive at eight games (eight goals, four assists). The 28-year-old winger has surged in November to reach the 10-goal mark after tallying just once in October. For the season, he's produced 20 points, 58 shots, 24 hits and a plus-8 rating through 21 appearances as a constant member of the Avalanche's top six.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Riding seven-game point streak
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Nichushkin logged an assist in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Flames.
Nichushkin's goal streak ended at six games, but the helper kept the point streak alive. The winger's 10th assist of the year came on Nathan MacKinnon's response goal in the second period. Nichushkin has been excellent since replacing the injured Artturi Lehkonen (neck) on the top line. For the season, Nichushkin has nine goals, 10 helpers, 56 shots on net, 21 hits, 12 PIM and a plus-7 rating over 20 contests.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Scores on power play again
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Nichushkin scored a power-play goal on five shots in Friday's 3-2 win over the Wild.
Nichushkin's tally in the second period briefly gave the Avalanche a 2-0 lead. The winger has scored in six straight games, racking up seven goals and three assists over that span. For the season, he's up to nine goals, 18 points, 55 shots on net, 20 hits and a plus-6 rating through 19 contests.
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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.
