Avalanche Notebook: Valeri Nichushkin Goal Was Orr (Or Makar)-Esque

I’ve watched the Valeri Nichushkin goal from last night a few times again this morning, and it seems to get better each time.

What a goal by Val Nichushkin pic.twitter.com/GFjfn7Gjxb

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) October 23, 2022

Nichushkin made Brayden McNabb look like a cement pylon with that final move before bearing in on goal. What a year Nuke is having so far, and what an amazing story he’s become overall. Here’s a guy who was bought out by Dallas, then picked up off the scrap heap by the Avalanche. Today, he’s in Year 1 of an eight-year contract with the Avalanche.

Amazing.

Here are a few other nuggets about Valeri Nichushkin right now:

• Entering today, his six goals lead the team and are tied for second in the NHL with Andrei Svechnikov.
• Nichushkin joins Nathan MacKinnon (7) in 2018-19 and Milan Hejduk (6) in 2008-09 as the only players in Avalanche history (since the franchise relocated) to score six goals in the first six team games of the season.
• Nichushkin has at least a point in all six games so far, tops in the league.

OTHER AVALANCHE NOTES

• The boys had today off, and they won’t practice Monday either. The only team activity Monday is the flight to New York.
• The Avalanche’s 20 points from defensemen is tied for most in the league with Pittsburgh.
• The Avalanche season-ticket waiting list keeps growing. 
• We should get word later today whether the Avalanche will recall anyone new from the Eagles for the upcoming trip.
• Avalanche players will be doing some serious packing for this trip. Don’t forget, the trip for the two games in Finland happens right after the New York trip.