Colorado Avalanche left wing Valeri Nichushkin scored a hat trick during their victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday evening. In the opening frame, Nichushkin found the back of the net twice, both during even strength play. Later in the final frame, Nichushkin would complete his hat trick as he scored an empty-netter. In the final minute, Nichushkin would add his fourth point of the evening, this time with the primary assist on Colorado's second empty-net goal. This was his first career regular season hat trick and only the second time he found the back of the net twice in a single game this season. Over his previous six contests, Nichushkin has tallied six points (four goals) with two of the points coming on the power-play. Fantasy managers should continue to view Nichushkin as a viable play in favorable matchups in DFS as he will continue to see time in the Colorado top-six.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) will be welcomed back into the lineup on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. He will make his first appearance in 2025 after missing time due to a lower-body injury. Nichushkin was suspended at the start of the season, meaning he has skated in just 21 games in 2024-25. Colorado has received top-class production from Nichushkin when he has been on the ice, as the Russian forward boasts 11 goals and 17 points for the season. The Avalanche will partner Nichushkin with Jonathan Drouin and Casey Mittelstadt in the lineup.
Valeri Nichushkin Expected To Remain Sidelined Through International Break
According to Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette, Colorado Avalanche left wing Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) is expected to remain sidelined through the 4 Nations break. Nichushkin has already been sidelined over the past 14 contests due to the injury he suffered on December 31. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Nichushkin to remain out over their final five contests before the international break. Before the injury, the 29-year-old scored 11 goals and added six helpers across 21 contests this season. He has held a +6 rating with 52 total shots on goal. While sidelined, fantasy managers should continue to expect Juuso Parssinen to have a role on the second offensive line and power-play unit.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury and is considered week-to-week. Nichushkin, who has been out since Dec. 31, returned to full practice on Sunday. However, he left the session early, and it seems that it will take more time before he is back in game shape. Colorado will play an 11th consecutive game without Nichushkin on Wednesday against Winnipeg. Ross Colton has landed on the top line during Nichushkin's absence and deserves fantasy attention as he skates alongside two of the league's top six scorers, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) will not suit up for Thursday's matchup against Buffalo. He sustained a lower-body injury on Tuesday versus Winnipeg. Per Avalanche play-by-play announcer Conor McGahey, head coach Jared Bednar has described Nichushkin's injury as "more of a minor deal." This suggests that the Russian forward can make a relatively quick return. After a suspension delayed his season debut, Nichushkin has been performing well in 2024-25, recording 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in 21 outings. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen might be reunited on the first line due to Nichushkin's absence. Jonathan Drouin, who returned to the lineup with a two-assist performance on Tuesday, is also an option to move up to the top line.
According to Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette, Colorado Avalanche left wing Valeri Nichushkin (lower body) departed Tuesday's game early and did not return. Before suffering the injury, Nichushkin tallied three shots on goal with a +1 rating while playing on the top line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the 29-year-old's status heading into their next matchup on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. While sidelined, Mikko Rantanen will likely return to the top unit. The superstar forward is currently riding an 11-game point streak. Over this span, he has tallied 19 points (six goals, 13 helpers) with 25 total shots on goal.
Valeri Nichushkin Pots Lone Avalanche Goal In Monday's Defeat
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin was the team's lone goal-scorer in Monday's 3-1 defeat against Vancouver. He grabbed a late consolation goal with 46 seconds left in regulation. Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar picked up the assists. Nichushkin already has five goals for the month and has been providing steady offense since making his season debut a month ago. He's bagged eight goals in total and sits on 12 points through 16 appearances. The Russian forward skates on the second line with Ross Colton and Casey Mittelstadt and has landed a job on the first power-play unit.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) will return on November 15th from the NHLPA Player Assistance Program. Nichushkin was suspended for six months and placed into the program in May and will be ready to go when first eligible to return. The 29-year-old will provide a much-needed boost to the heavily depleted Avalanche forward group and should immediately join the top six and first powerplay unit. He had 53 points (28 goals, 25 assists) in 54 games last year in a similar role. He is a must-roster player and is available in almost half of Yahoo leagues.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin has been suspended for six months without pay. The news was announced right before the team's playoff clash with Dallas on Monday. Nichushkin will enter Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program, which carries an automatic six-month suspension. Losing Nichushkin is a bitter blow for Colorado. He's tied for most goals in the 2024 postseason with nine markers in eight games. Artturi Lehkonen replaced the Russian winger on the first line in Monday's Game 4.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin remained red-hot in front of goal Thursday night in Game 2 against the Stars, scoring his ninth postseason goal in a 5-3 defeat. He joined Pat LaFontaine as just the second player in league history to score in each of his team's first seven games of a postseason campaign. The Russian forward leads the goal-scoring charts with Edmonton's Zach Hyman, who has scored nine times in six games. Nichushkin's work in these playoffs includes one assist, as he sits among six Avalanche players who have averaged at least a point per game in seven contests. More success appears to be guaranteed for Nichushkin & Co., with Colorado averaging a whopping 5.00 goals per game in the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin notched a hat trick in Game 4 on Sunday to help steer his team to a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. He gave his team a 2-1 lead midway through the second period before extending the lead to 4-1 with just 24 seconds left in the middle frame. The Russian would then deposit his third goal of the game into an empty net with 13 seconds to go in the contest. The veteran now has a goal in each game this series and a whopping six tallies through the first four games. Add in his two-goal game in the final regular-season contest and Nichushkin now has eight goals over his last five games. The Avalanche lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 ahead of Game 5 on Tuesday in Winnipeg.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin is nursing a lower-body injury, making him questionable to face the Rangers on Thursday. The Russian forward might be forced to come out of the lineup after playing in eight consecutive games following a return from personal leave of absence. Nichushkin has been on fire when in the lineup, posting 26 goals and 50 points across 48 games this season. Zach Parise might move into the top six to replace Nichushkin on Thursday, which would give the veteran added fantasy value.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (personal) will rejoin the lineup on Friday versus Minnesota. He's back in action following a 22-game absence. Nichushkin last played on Jan. 10, entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program soon after. The Russian winger was having an outstanding season before dropping out of the lineup, recording 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 40 games. He rejoins the action on a new-look second line, which will also feature Jonathan Drouin and newcomer Casey Mittelstadt, who was acquired from Buffalo earlier in the week. Nichushkin is also projected to skate with the second power-play unit -- 13 of his goals this season have come with the man advantage.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (personal) could return Wednesday after missing the last 19 games. Nichushkin joined the NHL player assistance program on January 10, and just started practicing with the team again last Monday. If he plays Wednesday, he will likely join the top six and first powerplay unit. The 29-year-old has 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 40 games this year, and was on fire just before his extended absence. He should immediately be inserted back into fantasy lineups when he returns.
Valeri Nichushkin Cleared From Player Assistance Program
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He is now free to practice with the club moving forward but has not been clear yet for game action. The 28-year-old last appeared on Jan. 10 when he scored a pair of goals in a shutout win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Prior to departing the club, the Russian was enjoying a big season, tallying 22 goals and 42 points in 40 games. His previous career high in points was 52 set with the Avs in 2021-22 while he also posted a career-high 25 goals that season, as well. Add in his 128 shots, 55 hits, 18 penalty minutes, and plus-nine rating and Nichushkin has certainly been a valuable fantasy asset this season.
Valeri Nichushkin Enters Players Assistance Program
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin has voluntarily entered the Players Assistance Program of the NHL and NHLPA. As a result, he will be unavailable to the club for an indefinite period of time. "My goal is to address my issues and prevent any negative outcomes once and for all," the veteran said as part of a statement released on Monday afternoon. Despite his off-ice issues, Nichushkin was having a nice year on the ice where he recorded 22 goals and 42 points across 40 games for Colorado, including a two-goal effort against the Vegas Golden Knights his last time out on Jan. 10. The Russian has tallied 110 goals and 263 points across 498 career regular-season games between the Avalanche and Dallas Stars.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin is feeling under the weather but could still play Saturday versus Toronto. The 28-year-old has been outstanding for Colorado all year and would be a big miss. He has notched 22 goals and 42 points in 40 appearances this season, including nine (six goals, three assists) in his past seven outings. Only Buffalo's Sam Reinhart (15) has scored more power-play goals than Nichushkin (13), and he would be in a good position to add to his tally on Saturday, with Toronto's penalty-killing efficiency at a lowly 76.8 percent.
Valeri Nichushkin Scores Two Goals In Wednesday's Win
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin registered a second consecutive multi-point outing on Wednesday when he scored two goals in a 5-1 victory over the Sabres. He had an even-strength tally in the first period and wrapped up the scoring with a power-play goal. This was a special outing for Nichushkin, as the Russian forward reached 100 career goals. 12 of his markers have come in 27 appearances this season. He's also had 13 assists as an effective part of the Avalanche top six.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin (illness) will be back in the lineup Saturday against Philadelphia. He's returning from an illness that kept Nichushkin away from action for two games. Nichushkin has gone on a mini-slump with back-to-back pointless efforts, but he finished last month with a nine-game scoring streak, and it has been a successful campaign for him overall. In 24 appearances, the Russian forward has tallied 10 goals and 11 assists.
Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin took care of two goals as the team crushed the Ducks with an 8-2 victory Wednesday night. He made it 2-0 in the first period with an even-strength tally and scored Colorado's fifth goal of the game on the power play. Nichushkin has been on a roll in front of goal lately, lighting the lamp four times in his past four appearances. The Russian forward was on just one goal for the season before starting the streak. He's had some struggles offensively, but Artturi Lehkonen's (upper body) injury has pushed him to the top line, and Nichushkin has taken full advantage of the situation. For the season overall, Nichushkin has produced 11 points in 15 games.
Valeri Nichushkin
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Avalanche
