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Colorado Avalanche could get Valeri Nichushkin back Friday vs Rangers

By Graham Tiedtke

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 24: Valeri Nichushkin #13 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal by Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game Five of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ball Arena on June 24, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 24: Valeri Nichushkin #13 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal by Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game Five of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ball Arena on June 24, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Finally, the Colorado Avalanche might be getting some positive news on the injury front as we near Friday’s matchup against the New York Rangers. Head coach Jared Bednar was asked if Valeri Nichushkin would return to the lineup on Friday, and he gave a small smile and replied with “Maybe.”

Nichushkin has been out due to suffering an ankle injury that happened to require surgery. It was expected that he would miss about a month to recover from it and it just so happens that it has been one month and one day since that news came out.

Nichushkin was on a fast pace this season prior to the injury, playing in the team’s first seven games of the season and scoring seven goals and five assists. Getting him back would obviously be a huge addition to the lineup, as the team has been plugging guys in and out of different positions throughout the year because of the number of injuries.

The Avalanche need all the talent it can get back on the ice. The team has experienced a lot of injuries this season and have gone the entire year without their captain Gabriel Landeskog. They will also be missing Nathan MacKinnon for about four weeks after he appeared to have hut his side/hip just a couple of days ago.

Artturi Lehkonen won’t play for Colorado Avalanche vs Rangers Friday…

While we still await the official word on Nichushkin, Bednar did say that Artturi Lehkonen will not play on Friday. Lehkonen sustained an upper-body injury against the Boston Bruins.

Despite the rash of injuries this team as had to overcome, it is amazing how well they have fought and even come out with some impressive wins. While we would like to see the team perform better, it is understandable when they aren’t able to make a comeback happen, say, against the Bruins. The Colorado Avalanche have been outscored by the Bruins 9-1 in two games this season, both coming in the last six days.

On Friday, they face off against the 13-10-5 New York Rangers, who have won their last two games.

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