The Colorado Avalanche have officially welcomed back key forward Valeri Nichushkin for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, giving the team a major lift as they continue their dominant start to the season.
Nichushkin had been sidelined since November 11 with an injury but returned to full practice earlier in the week. Head coach Jared Bednar cleared the winger to play after assessing his performance in practice, signaling confidence that he’s ready to contribute immediately. His return adds a dangerous scoring threat and depth to an Avalanche roster that has already been scorching opponents.
Colorado enters the game with an impressive 18-1-6 record and 42 points, including a recent 7-2 rout of the Montreal Canadiens, powered by standout performances from Gabriel Landeskog and Brock Nelson. Even though their 10-game winning streak ended in a shootout loss to Minnesota, the Avalanche quickly bounced back with a dominant win over Montreal, demonstrating the team’s resilience and depth.
Nichushkin has played 17 games this season, recording five goals and seven assists. While his stats haven’t been explosive, his presence on the ice brings versatility, experience, and an added scoring option, making the Avalanche even more difficult for opponents to handle.
With his return, Colorado’s lineup is healthier and more potent than ever, adding to the team’s already formidable rotation of forwards. Nichushkin’s comeback also gives the Avalanche added confidence as they aim to maintain momentum and continue their pursuit of playoff dominance.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Nichushkin integrates back into the lineup and whether he can help extend the team’s winning ways as the NHL season progresses.
