Bold claim: Nichushkin’s return could unlock a legendary Colorado top six, and this time the lineup looks more dangerous than ever. Valeri Nichushkin is back in the Avalanche lineup on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks after an eight-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
Colorado didn’t desperately need reinforcements, but Nichushkin’s presence—already tallying five goals and 12 points in 17 games—injects the top six with added bite. He’s rejoining a unit that now appears far more potent than the group in place three weeks ago when he was healthy.
READ MORE: Avalanche Game 26 vs Vancouver Canucks: Nichushkin Returns, Lines, Notes & How To Watch (https://coloradohockeynow.com/2025/12/02/avalanche-game-26-vs-vancouver-canucks-nichushkin-returns-lines-notes-how-to-watch/)
The expectation is for Nichushkin to reunite with the second line that started the season. That means him skating alongside captain Gabe Landeskog and center Brock Nelson. Early in the season, both Landeskog and Nelson had sluggish starts, which led to Ross Colton taking a turn on the second line in place of Nichushkin.
Since Nichushkin’s injury, Landeskog and Nelson have found their form. Landeskog has four goals and eight points in his last nine games, while Nelson has five goals and 11 points in the same stretch, a run that began the moment Nichushkin left the ice.
Could this finally be the dangerous second line Colorado has long sought? It’s possible. Nichushkin’s combination of size, skill, and two-way game could elevate this to the best top six the franchise has fielded in years.
The Avalanche will start Scott Wedgewood in goal, aiming for a rebound after a shootout loss in Minnesota in his previous appearance. Colorado heads on the road for four straight games after this one, including a back-to-back weekend slate. Both Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood will be essential during that stretch.
Vancouver has faced struggles on multiple fronts this season under first-year coach Adam Foote. They sit outside the playoff picture and have yet to establish a consistent defensive game. Offensively, they’re middle of the pack, but they’ve allowed 95 goals—tied for the most in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers.
Kevin Lankinen is slated to start in goal for Vancouver.
