Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin: Manages assist in win

Nichushkin posted an assist, three shots on goal and two hits in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.

Nichushkin earned the secondary helper on Jack Johnson's first-period tally. Through 55 games last year, Nichushkin posted 21 points and 65 hits. The 26-year-old winger looks poised to play a larger role this year after Joonas Donskoi was selected in the Kraken's expansion draft in July. Nichushkin should stay in a top-six role for now, but his second-line status likely depends on the performances of young forwards Sampo Ranta and Alex Newhook.