DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche will once again be without high-scoring forward Valeri Nichushkin for the remainder of the playoffs.
The 29-year-old Russian was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program hours before the Avalanche lost Game 4. 2nd round series against Dallas on Monday night.
This will be his second time with the program this season. Stage 3 means Nichushkin violated the terms of the program, which helps with everything from mental health needs to substance abuse. Nishuskin will miss the remainder of the postseason and at least the first month of next season.
The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players Association announced the news about an hour before the game started. Teammates heard the news when they arrived at the rink before a lackluster 5-1 loss to the Stars, which nearly pushed them to the brink of elimination. They lost by a 16-2 margin in the first period and trailed 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
The co-leader in Stanley Cup Playoff goals was suspended for at least six months. Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh has more to say.
Game 5 will be played in Dallas on Wednesday. Nichushkin leads the team with nine goals in the playoffs this season.
Details of Nishuskin’s struggle were not disclosed.in the first round of the playoff series Last spring’s game against SeattleNichushkin abruptly left the team and missed the final five games of the postseason.
“Val is obviously struggling with something,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Yeah, that sucks for our team. We’ve got to turn the page. We’ve got to play a lot better than we did today. We still have 20-plus players in that room and we care about them. , we want to win and that’s what we have to focus on. There’s no question. He’s a great player.”
Asked if Nichushkin had let his team down, Bednar wasn’t willing to go down that path.
“I’ve gotten to know Val as a person and as a teammate. I want what’s best for him,” Bednar said. “I want him to be happy and I want him to be happy with his life, whether it’s on our team or not. I want what’s best for him and his family. I hope he can find some peace and help.”
Stars coach Pete DeBoer echoed that sentiment.
“On the human side, you feel for athletes who are dealing with issues like that,” DeBoer said.
Nichushkin was out for nearly two months earlier this season, from January 13th to March 7th. receive care from NHLPA/NHL Player Assistance Program for undisclosed issues. He is the second Avalanche player to join the program during the regular season, joining defenseman Samuel Girard, who said in November that anxiety and depression led to alcohol abuse. Girard returned in mid-December.
Nishuskin’s absence began last spring after police responded to an emergency call at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle before Game 3. The 28-year-old woman was in the ambulance when officers arrived, and her medical personnel were asked to speak with an avalanche team doctor. Collect more details.
An Avalanche doctor told officers that team personnel spotted the woman while checking on Nichushkin, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press at the time from the Seattle Police Department. The doctor told officers that the woman was so intoxicated that she was not drunk enough to leave the hotel “by rideshare or taxi” and that she requested EMS assistance. she said.
Before the season, Nichushkin dodged questions about the situation, saying only: I think it should be closed. ”
Asked after the game if he could see a scenario in which Nichushkin and the team would reunite someday, Bednar simply said, “I don’t know.”
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Associated Press hockey writer Stephen Wyno contributed to this report.
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