Avs' Valeri Nichushkin returns, beats Wild in OT

Field Level Media|published: Sat 9th March, 24:10 2024

Mar 8, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) attempts a shot against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) in the second period at Ball Arena. credits: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Valeri Nichushkin capped his return to action by scoring a power-play goal in overtime, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild in Denver on Friday night.

Nichushkin, who missed 23 games over the past two months after entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, knocked in his 23rd goal of the season at 2:32 of the extra session.

Nathan MacKinnon had two assists to extend his home point streak to 32 games, Artturi Lehkonen also had a goal and Alexandar Georgiev turned away 29 shots for the Avalanche.

MacKinnon tied Guy Lafleur for the third-longest home point streak in NHL history. He can tie Wayne Gretzky for second if he gets a point in Colorado's next home game, March 22 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 28-year-old center also extended his overall point streak to 12 games (eight goals, 18 assists).

Brock Faber scored and Filip Gustavsson had 38 saves for Minnesota.

Both teams were active leading up to the trade deadline — and with each other. The Wild dealt Brandon Duhaime to Colorado on Thursday, and he played on the fourth line against his former team.

Minnesota also traded Connor Dewar to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pat Maroon to the Boston Bruins on Friday.

The Avalanche had four new players in the lineup after a flurry of trades the past two days. Centers Casey Mittelstadt and Yakov Trenin and defenseman Sean Walker all made their Colorado debuts Friday night.

The Avalanche were missing Zach Parise and Logan O'Connor due to lower-body injuries.

MacKinnon wasted no time in getting a point Friday night, assisting on Lehkonen's goal 42 seconds into the game. It was Lehkonen's 11th of the season.

The score stayed 1-0 until midway through the second period when Kirill Kaprizov fed Faber for his seventh goal of the season at 10:44.

Minnesota's Mats Zuccarello was awarded a penalty shot at 14:05 of the third but backhanded it wide, keeping it tied. Kaprizov came up empty on two breakaways moments later.

Colorado had a tiebreaking goal disallowed when the Wild successfully challenged for offside at 17:26 of the third.

—Field Level Media