The Colorado Avalanche held forward Valeri Nichushkin out of Monday’s 5-2 victory over Washington after he was involved in a car accident on his way to the rink.
Coach Jared Bednar said Nichushkin was checked out at the facility and suffered minor injuries but that “everything seems to be OK.”
“Just not good enough to play tonight,” Bednar said. “We’ll see what tomorrow brings for him.”
The accident happened on icy roads following overnight snowfall in Denver. Bednar described it as a multi-vehicle fender bender but didn’t have additional details about the incident.
“It was a fender bender, but serious enough to keep him out of lineup,” Bednar said. “I’m sorry, I don’t know all the details.”
Nichushkin has 11 goals and 16 assists this season after missing eight games with a lower-body injury.
The 30-year-old right winger received a suspension of at least six months in May 2024 and was placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The suspension came during Colorado’s playoff run, marking the second consecutive postseason where Nichushkin wasn’t available due to circumstances away from the ice.
He appeared in just 43 games last season but still finished fifth on the team with 21 goals. It marked his third 20-goal campaign.
Emergency Callup Makes Impact
With Nichushkin scratched late, Colorado recalled forward Alex Barré-Boulet from the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.
Barré-Boulet made the 60-mile drive from Loveland, Colorado, in time for puck drop. He recorded an assist on the opening goal by Parker Kelly.
The assist was Barré-Boulet’s first NHL point since the 2023-24 season with Tampa Bay.
Colorado is already without several key players. Gabriel Landeskog, defenseman Devon Toews, and forward Joel Kiviranta remain sidelined with injuries.
Forward Logan O’Connor hasn’t played this season as he recovers from offseason hip surgery.
MacKinnon Reaches Milestone
Despite the roster challenges, the Avalanche maintain the NHL’s best record at 34-5-8.
Nathan MacKinnon scored twice against Washington to extend his league-leading goal total to 38. He also added an assist to reach 1,100 career points.
MacKinnon joins Hall of Famer Joe Sakic as the only players in franchise history to reach 1,100 points.
“He’s had a hell of a career to this point, and there’s no signs of him slowing down,” Bednar said of MacKinnon. “I’m sure he’s well on his way to another however many points he’s going to get.”
The Avalanche continue their season as they monitor Nichushkin’s status for upcoming games.
