Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was a late scratch from Monday night's NHL clash against the Washington Capitals after being involved in a car accident en route to the arena. The Avalanche proceeded to secure a 5-2 victory without him, but the incident adds to the team's growing list of unavailable players.
Precautionary Absence Following Multi-Vehicle Collision
Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed the news after the game, stating that Nichushkin had sustained minor injuries in the crash. The player was evaluated at the team's facility, with Bednar reporting that "everything seems to be OK" from a medical perspective. However, the coach emphasised the decision to hold the 30-year-old out was purely precautionary.
"Just not good enough to play tonight," Bednar explained. "We’ll see what tomorrow brings for him." The coach provided limited details on the accident itself, attributing it to icy road conditions following an overnight snowfall which led to a multi-vehicle collision. He described it as "a fender bender, but serious enough to keep him out of lineup."
Another Setback in a Turbulent Season
This unexpected absence marks another chapter of unavailability for Nichushkin during the 2025-26 campaign. The Russian winger has already missed eight games this season due to a lower-body injury. His current tally stands at 11 goals and 16 assists.
This incident follows a challenging period for the player off the ice. Last May, Nichushkin received a suspension of at least six months and was placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. This made him unavailable for Colorado's playoff run for the second consecutive postseason due to off-ice circumstances.
To fill the sudden gap in the lineup, the Avalanche made an emergency recall, summoning forward Alex Barré-Boulet from the AHL's Colorado Eagles. Barré-Boulet made the 60-mile journey from Loveland in time for the puck drop and made an immediate impact, recording an assist on Parker Kelly's opening goal. This marked his first NHL point since the 2023-24 season when he played for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Avalanche Power Through Mounting Injury List
Nichushkin's name now joins a significant injury report for the league-leading Avalanche. The team is already without captain Gabriel Landeskog (upper body), top defenceman Devon Toews (upper body), and forward Joel Kiviranta (lower body). Furthermore, forward Logan O’Connor has yet to make his season debut as he recovers from offseason hip surgery.
Despite these personnel challenges, Colorado's formidable form continues unabated. They boast the NHL's best record at 34 wins, 5 losses, and 8 overtime losses. A primary driver of this success is the phenomenal season being enjoyed by centre Nathan MacKinnon. Against the Capitals, he scored two goals, bringing his league-leading total to 38, and added an assist.
That assist was a historic one, representing MacKinnon's 1,100th career point. This milestone places him alongside Hall of Famer Joe Sakic as the only players in franchise history to reach that figure. Coach Bednar heaped praise on his star player, noting, "He's had a hell of a career to this point, and there’s no signs of him slowing down. I’m sure he’s well on his way to another however many points he’s going to get."
