Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin is away from the team for “personal reasons,” according to Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar in a report from Peter Baugh of The Athletic after the Avalanche defeated the Kraken on Saturday in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinal on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena.
In the report, Bednar directed that Nichushkin’s absence is not for disciplinary reasons.
Nichushkin, 27, was originally ruled out of morning skate on Saturday for “maintenance day” reasons, according to Bednar. In the absence of the 6-foot-4, 200-pound forward from Chelyabinsk, Russia, the Avalanche broke a 3-3 tie in the third period on two goals by Mikko Rantanen, and an eventual game winner from Nathan MacKinnon as Colorado seized their first series lead, 2-1.
Bednar declined to identify a timeline to reporters on Sunday for an update on Nichushkin’s return.
“It sucks,” MacKinnon told reporters after Saturday’s win on Nichuskin’s absence.
“Honestly it sucks, but it’s life and worse things are happening I guess, but we miss him for sure.”
Nichushkin scored a game-tying goal as part of Colorado’s game two rally and a 3-2 victory over the Kraken, splitting the first two games of the series in Denver. He scored 17 goals and racked up 47 points this regular season, his fourth with the Avalanche, and was a part of their Cup winning squad last year with nine goals in 20 postseason games.