Valeri Nichushkin just can’t seem to catch a break.
The Colorado Avalanche forward was a surprise scratch ahead of Monday night’s 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals, and the reason turned out to be as unexpected as it was unfortunate - a car accident on the way to the arena. According to head coach Jared Bednar, Nichushkin sustained minor injuries in the incident. While the team hasn’t released specifics, Bednar noted that Nichushkin’s status for Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks remains up in the air.
It’s another frustrating chapter in what’s become a familiar story for Nichushkin. He already missed eight games earlier this season with a lower-body injury back in November.
And while there’s still a path for him to play as many as 73 games this year, he hasn’t cracked the 65-game mark in any season since returning from the KHL in 2018. The talent is there - that’s never been in question - but staying consistently healthy has been the challenge.
When he’s been on the ice this season, Nichushkin has delivered. Through 38 games, he’s posted 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points - right in line with his usual production over the past few years.
But his value goes beyond the scoresheet. Defensively, he’s been one of Colorado’s most reliable forwards, with a strong impact in limiting quality chances against.
His -0.107 expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 (regularized adjusted plus-minus) is a sign of just how effective he’s been in his own zone.
With Nichushkin sidelined Monday, the Avalanche had to shuffle the deck. Alex Barre-Boulet made his season debut and made an immediate impact, picking up an assist on Colorado’s opening goal.
Victor Olofsson, meanwhile, stepped into a bigger role, sliding up to the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Ross Colton. That trio held their own and helped the Avs keep rolling.
And rolling they are. Colorado’s win over Washington pushed their record to a league-best 34-5-8, giving them a 10-point cushion at the top of the standings. This team is firing on all cylinders, and they’ve shown they can adapt on the fly - even when key players like Nichushkin are unexpectedly out.
The Avalanche will look to keep the momentum going when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night. Whether Nichushkin is back in the lineup or not, Colorado has proven they have the depth and structure to keep stacking wins. But make no mistake - if they’re going to make a deep run this spring, they’ll want No. 13 healthy and in the mix.