Avalanche Forward Valeri Nichushkin Out Day-to-Day, Won’t Play Thursday

DENVER — The Avalanche are going to be without Valeri Nichushkin for roughly 7-10 days, head coach Jared Bednar announced on Thursday ahead of a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.

Bednar said his injury is day-to-day “for now,” but they’re waiting to see how he feels over the next few days before having a better idea of his recovery. It sounds like a minor injury and nothing that should keep him out for long.

“I don’t think it’s really serious but it could keep him out for 7-10 days,” Bednar said.

Colorado’s top left-winger suffered a lower-body injury against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday and didn’t play the third period. Nichushkin, 29, had a strong start to his season despite missing the first 17 games while serving the remainder of his six-month suspension.

He has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games. Nichushkin didn’t record a point in his first three games, nor was he on the scoresheet against Winnipeg. In the 17 games in between, he was producing at a point-per-game pace and was one of the NHL’s top 10 goal scorers in that stretch.

His injury came on the same day Jonathan Drouin returned from a 16-game absence (upper body). When Nichushkin left the game, head coach Jared Bednar had to remake his top six. Nathan MacKinnon centered Artturi Lehkonen and Mikko Rantanen on the top line while Casey Mittelstadt centered Ross Colton and Drouin.

Colorado called up Oskar Olausson to fill the final spot in the lineup.