Avalanche Game 60 vs New Jersey Devils: Nichushkin Returns! Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (33-24-2) begin a crucial six-game homestand against the New Jersey Devils (32-21-6). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:38 p.m. MT.

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The Avs are coming off disappointing back-to-back losses over the weekend. They fell 2-1 to Nashville and 3-1 to St. Louis — two teams outside of the playoff picture — following the lengthy 4 Nations Face-Off break.

They didn’t have Valeri Nichushkin for those games, but the Russian forward is finally set to make his return. Nichushkin hasn’t played since December but had 11 goals and 17 points in his last 17 games before suffering an injury against Winnipeg on New Year’s Eve.

Having him back should hopefully improve Colorado’s depth-scoring woes. Outside of its top four forwards, the Avalanche haven’t gotten much of any production from anyone else since the calendar flipped to 2025.

Nichushkin is slated to play on the second line alongside center Casey Mittelstadt and winger Jonathan Drouin. Juuso Parssinen comes out of the lineup, meaning the third and fourth lines will remain the same minus a switch-up of Miles Wood and Joel Kiviranta — assuming they roll with the lines they had at Tuesday’s practice.

In goal, the Avs will go with former Devil Mackenzie Blackwood. The other former Devil, Scott Wedgewood, helped Colorado shutout New Jersey 4-0 on the road in the only other meeting between the two clubs this season.

Tonight’s game kicks off a season-defining homestand. How the Avs play in the first four games might help determine how aggressively the front office approaches the trade deadline. Defeating a strong team like New Jersey could also help re-energize a squad that isn’t feeling great after the weekend losses.

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It’s crazy to think that the Devils are only two points up on the Avs and have fewer wins. New Jersey is feeling a lot more comfortable about its position in the playoffs, and being in the struggling Eastern Conference has a lot to do with that.

Sheldon Keefe’s club is 6-4-0 in their last 10 games after shutting out the Nashville Predators 5-0 on Sunday. They are still without starting goalie Jacob Markstrom, who has been out since Jan. 23 with an MCL sprain.

They’ll likely turn to Jake Allen in goal. Allen was the backup to Nico Daws on Sunday but will get a chance to get back into the winning column himself. He’s 9-12-1 this season with a .910 save percentage.

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