Last night, Colorado demonstrated a killer instinct and bounced back from a 0-3 deficit against season leader Vancouver, snatching victory in overtime. The main character of the meeting was Valery Nichushkin. The Russian forward scored 30 seconds after the start of extra time and did it in an extremely impressive way – with his head. The puck, after MacKinnon’s throw, hit the Russian’s visor and flew into the goal. It’s already too easy for Valery to score with a stick.
Nichushkin generally gives an incredible performance in recent matches. After a two-month break, Valery played three games in which he scored 5 (3+2) points. He scores in every game and once again resembles the hockey player who was called an NHL star. And all this is simply surprising when you remember that in early January he was placed in the NHL Player Assistance Program due to mental problems. It seems that never before has the return from this program happened so quickly and so triumphantly. Even here the Chelyabinsk resident beat everyone!
The 29-year-old forward has already repeated his sniper record in one regular season (25 goals), and is also five points away from repeating his personal scoring record. Now Valery has 47 points (25+22) after 43 games. In the 2021/22 season, he scored 52 points (25+27) in 62 matches. And all this, let me remind you, is happening during a season when the hockey player is faced with serious problems in life.
On January 13, the Russian forward did not play against Toronto (5:3); the absence of one of the Colorado leaders was explained by illness. A few days later the real reasons were announced. The player and the club did not give reasons. The hockey player limited himself to general words that were published on the organization’s official website: “I decided to seek help and take part in the player assistance program. The goal is to solve my problems and prevent any negative consequences once and for all.”
The second time Nichushkin went to the assistance program. He was a member of it after an incident in the 2023 playoffs, when he left the team’s location in the midst of a series with Seattle (an unknown girl was found intoxicated in his hotel room). Then there was information that Valery had problems with alcohol. This time, no versions were mentioned in the North American media; there were reports from Russian sources that Nichushkin was affected by the birth of his daughter, allegedly because of the infant child at home, he began to have problems sleeping, and he took sleeping pills. However, it is not entirely clear how having a child forced the player to enter a program that helps people with serious psychological problems and addictions (alcohol, drugs).
What happened is not so important, the main thing is that Nichushkin kept his promise and returned as soon as possible. In the 20th of February it became known that the Russian would soon join the team. First, he began training with the Avalanche, and on March 8 he took to the ice in an official match. And immediately things went up for Colorado. Valery is called the last puzzle that the team needed to go for the second Stanley Cup. The Avalanche are now on a streak of five wins in a row; before that, the team had been in a storm all month.
“He approached his treatment the same way he approached his fitness on and off the ice. I’m proud of him,” Avalanche general manager Chris McFarland said.
The Russian striker plays in the top three with MacKinnon and Rantanen, and also plays in the first special team of the majority. Even before Valery returned, Nathan began his scoring streak, but now the Russian is helping him. MacKinnon has 6 points (2+4) in the last three matches; he is eight points ahead of Nikita Kucherov in the scorers race.
When Nichushkin’s problems started, no one thought to criticize him. In Denver they only sympathized with him and wanted to resolve all the difficulties as soon as possible. “It’s great to have him back and great to see the support he gets from our fans. It can help a guy mentally when he feels supported by the organization and our fans,” Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said.
Nichushkin pays for the love of his fans with a great game. An ideal union.
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2024-03-14 22:10:00
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