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.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Attending to personal matter
Rotowire
Nichushkin missed Saturday's Game 3 for personal reasons, Ryan S. Clark of ESPN reports.
Head coach Jared Bednar was uncertain on how long Nichushkin would be away from the Avalanche, so his status for Game 4 on Monday is murky at best. When he rejoins the team, it shouldn't take him long to get back into game action, but it's unclear when that might happen.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Sitting out Game 3
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Nichushkin (undisclosed) is not on the ice for warmups, indicating he'll miss Saturday's Game 3 versus the Kraken, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Nichushkin scored a goal in Game 2, but he took a maintenance day Saturday, missing the morning skate. He'll now be out of the lineup for this contest, though he can likely be considered day-to-day. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday in Seattle.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Scores in Thursday's win
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Nichushkin scored a goal on three shots and added three hits in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Kraken in Game 2.
Nichushkin's tally was his first since April 1, and he was limited to three assists over the eight games in between goals. The 28-year-old tied the game at 2-2 at the 7:30 mark of the second period. The winger put in a strong regular season with 47 points, 158 shots on net, 54 hits and a plus-15 rating through 53 appearances, and he remains a key part of the Avalanche's top six.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Contributes two assists Sunday
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Nichushkin registered two assists in Colorado's 5-4 overtime victory over Anaheim on Sunday.
Nichushkin's second helper was recorded during a Colorado power play. He's up to 17 goals and 47 points in 50 contests, including 16 power-play points. Nichushkin was going through a little bit of a cold stretch, having recorded a goal and an assist over his previous five outings.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Registers assist in win
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Nichushkin posted an assist, five shots on goal, four blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Kings.
Nichushkin set up the second of Denis Malgin's tallies in the contest, which stood as the game-winner. The helper was Nichushkin's second point through four games in April. The top-six winger has 45 points, 150 shots on net, 51 hits and a plus-15 rating through 49 contests overall in a strong campaign.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Tallies goal vs. Dallas
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Nichushkin provided a goal in Colorado's 5-2 victory over Dallas on Saturday.
Nichushkin's marker came late in the third period on an empty net to increase Colorado's lead to 4-1. It was his 17th goal and 44th point in 46 games this season. Nichushkin has been held off the scoresheet only once in his last nine appearances, and he has four goals and nine points in that span.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Pots goal in Monday's win
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Nichushkin scored a goal on five shots and blocked two shots in Monday's 5-1 win over the Ducks.
Nichushkin supplied an insurance tally early in the second period. The winger is riding a seven-game point streak, during which he's recorded three goals and five helpers. The 28-year-old is up to 16 tallies, 43 points, 128 shots, 45 hits and a plus-15 rating through 44 contests overall.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Streaks to six games
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Nichushkin scored a power-play goal in Sunday's 4-3 shootout win over the Coyotes. He had four shots on net, two hits and one blocked shot over 24:13 of ice time.
Nichushkin finished off a feed from Mikko Rantanen for the Avalanche's third goal. It was the Russian forward's 15th tally of the season, 10 of which have come with Colorado a man up. The power-play tally ran his point streak to six games. Nichushkin's returned to the torrid scoring pace with which he opened season, posting 22 points over his last 17 contests.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Gets two helpers Friday
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Nichushkin registered two assists in Colorado's 3-1 victory over Arizona on Friday.
Nichushkin's first helper was recorded while the Avalanche had the man advantage. That gives him four power-play points over his last seven games, as well as three goals and five assists overall in that span. The 28-year-old's up to 14 goals and 41 points in 42 outings this season, including 14 points with the man advantage.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Creates helper in loss
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Nichushkin posted an assist and three shots on goal in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Penguins.
Nichushkin stole the puck behind the Penguins' net and fed J.T. Compher for a second-period goal. This was Nichushkin's fourth straight game with a point, and he has a tally and three helpers in that span. The winger is up to 39 points, 115 shots on net, 40 hits and a plus-13 rating through 41 outings overall while maintaining a top-six role.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Logs helper in Monday's win
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Nichushkin posted an assist in Monday's 5-0 win over the Blackhawks.
Nichushkin didn't do a lot Monday, but he set up the first of Denis Malgin's two goals in the game. Through 10 appearances in March, Nichushkin has four goals and nine assists. The 28-year-old winger is up to 14 tallies, 24 helpers, 112 shots on net, 39 hits and a plus-14 rating through 40 outings overall.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Tip-in tally in win
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Nichushkin scored power-play goal in Thursday's 5-4 win over Ottawa. He added two shots on net, one hit and one blocked shot to his line over 20:49 of ice time.
Nichushkin was camped net side and tipped in a Cale Makar shot for his 14th goal and second in the last three games. The forward appears to be getting his swerve back after dealing with two injuries that forced him to miss significant blocks in the schedule. Nichushkin registered 18 points (six goals, 12 assists), including five on the power play, over the last 12 contests.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Gets three points Monday
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Nichushkin netted a goal and registered two assists in Colorado's 8-4 victory over Montreal on Monday.
Two of Nichushkin's points -- the marker and one of his helpers -- were recorded while Colorado was on the power play. He's up to 13 goals and 35 points in 36 outings this season, including 12 points with the man advantage. Nichushkin has five goals and 16 points over his last 11 contests.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Erupts for four points
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Nichushkin scored a goal, added three assists, went plus-4 and logged two hits in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Sharks.
Nichushkin had a pair of points in each of the first two periods. The 28-year-old winger has gotten on the scoresheet in his last eight outings, producing four goals and nine assists in that span. He remains in a top-line role as he has for much of the time he's been healthy, and he's up to 12 tallies, 20 assists, 96 shots on net, 33 hits and a plus-14 rating through 33 appearances.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Grabs helper in return
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Nichushkin logged an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Kraken.
Nichushkin was back on the top line for the Avalanche, though it appears he was eased back in a bit with 17:37 of ice time in a close game. The winger helped out on Nathan MacKinnon's first-period tally. Nichushking has gotten on the scoresheet in each of his last seven games with three goals and six helpers in that span. He's up to 28 points, 95 shots, 31 hits, 21 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating through 32 outings overall.
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Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Expected to play Sunday
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Nichushkin (illness) is on the ice for warmups and expected to suit up Sunday against Seattle, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Nichushkin will limit his absence to just one game and be back in his usual top-line role. The 28-year-old has 27 points in 31 games this season, including nine in his last eight outings.
