The wait for Valeri Nichushkin continues. Colorado's big Russian winger took part in most of practice on Friday before the team flew to Nashville, but with about five minutes left in the skate, he went to the locker room before the rest of his teammates.

The Colorado Avalanche have stumbled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but they may get a key player back when they host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night.

The wait for Valeri Nichushkin continues. Colorado's big Russian winger took part in most of practice on Friday before the team flew to Nashville, but with about five minutes left in the skate, he went to the locker room before the rest of his teammates.

It’s a years-long trend since he arrived in Denver and had a breakout season when the Avs won the Stanley Cup. Just in the years since the title, Colorado is 89-30-10 during the regular season when Nichushkin plays and 46-43-6 when he doesn’t.

Valeri Nichushkin is going to return Wednesday night against the New Jersey Devils. He’s been out since Dec. 31 with a lower-body injury. He’s expected to start on the second line and the second power-play unit.

Valeri Nichushkin returns to the Colorado Avalanche lineup Wednesday night for the first time in nearly two months after recovering from a lower-body injury.

The Avalanche are preparing to welcome Valeri Nichushkin back into their lineup for the first time since late December.

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1 in Denver on Wednesday night.

Valeri Nichushkin made an immediate impact in his return to the Avalanche lineup on Wednesday, and our NHL player prop picks expect more of the same vs. the Wild on Friday night.

It took 25 seconds for Valeri Nichushkin to make an impact Wednesday ... In one quick sequence, Colorado’s second line showed a combination of skill and dogged determination that became a ...

DENVER (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin returns to the Colorado Avalanche lineup Wednesday night for the first time in nearly two months after recovering from a lower-body injury. The Russian forward ...