Avalanche get Nichushkin back Wednesday after two-month injury absence
Feb 26, 2025, 10:52 AM
For the past two months, Colorado Avalanche fans have been asking themselves a question that has become too familiar in recent years. When will Valeri Nichushkin return to the lineup?
Avs faithful got their answer on Wednesday morning after not getting one Tuesday, as head coach Jared Bednar announced that the winger will return in tonight’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils. Nichushkin has been out since Dec. 31 with a lower body injury.
Bednar confirms that Valeri Nichishkin will play tonight on @AltitudeSR. That’s the plan as of right now.
— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) February 26, 2025
Nichushkin’s return comes at the right time for the Avalanche, as the team has scored just two goals on 61 shots in two games since the 4 Nations Face-Off. The burgundy and blue need a spark to reignite the offense both on the power play and at even strength, and Nichushkin is just the spark they need.
The 6-foot-4 right-winger has tallied more than 50 points in each of the past three seasons, despite missing a significant amount of games each year, along with 17 points in 21 games this season. He was also tied for seventh in the NHL in power play goals a year ago with 16.
A big hurdle for Nichushkin will be building chemistry with the newly acquired Avs he hasn’t had a chance to play with yet in Martin Necas and Jack Drury. Chemistry is one of the most important aspects to having a team that can hoist the Stanley Cup in June, and while it will take some time for everyone to figure out how to play with each other, the question is, how long will that take?
Tonight’s game against the Devils starts at 7:30 p.m. MT at Ball Arena.
