The Colorado Avalanche and Avs Nation is holding their breath the day after the team came out with a 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night. Essentially, it was a 3-2 game, with the Jets pulling their goalie to get an extra skater on the ice for the last two minutes or so, allowing the Avalanche to knock in two empty net scores.
Unfortunately, the Avalanche suffered yet another injury to a key cog in the lineup. Valeri Nichushkin went down with a lower-body injury. Somewhat specifically, Nichushkin was hit in the foot by a shot against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
With that, it feels like the millionth time a member of the Avalanche went down with an injury this season. When one player comes back (Jonathan Drouin), another leaves. I don‘t necessarily believe in that sort of thing being a jinx, but it’s pretty darn close. It’s just the way it goes sometimes, and this year, it’s the Avs’ turn.
Thankfully, as mentioned, Colorado was able to secure the win with a couple of empty-net goals, although one would have secured the win with such little time remaining on the clock.
Colorado Avalanche record this year and all-time without Valeri Nichushkin in the lineup
As you can imagine, having a key player out of the lineup for a long period of time can put a team in a major hole. The Avalanche had to play the first part of the 2024-25 season without Valeri Nichushkin in the lineup, as he was suspended for six months, starting in the postseason last year. The Avalanche were knocked out of the playoffs last year in the second round against the Dallas Stars.
Before that, they took down the Winnipeg Jets to secure their chance to advance to the second round. Despite their 7-6 loss in the first game during the series, Colorado pulled off four-straight wins, eliminating the Jets.
With Nichushkin in the lineup, the Avs are 209-74-27 (67.42 percent). Without Nichushkin they are 52-42-6 (52 percent). That is a major difference and has been proven to be the difference in meaningful games. Nichushkin brings so much to the Avalanche. Hopefully we don’t have to be without him for very long. We’ll have updates on Nichushkin’s status when they become available.
Until then, Avalanche Nation is going to be eager to know the severity of his injury and how much time he will miss.