DENVER — Valeri Nichushkin has been on a tear for more than a month. None better than his monster-like performance in the Avalanche’s come-from-behind victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Nichushkin was a bull at 5-on-5, a bull on the power play, and nearly pulled off arguably the Avs’ goal of the season with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Instead, his one-man effort in the final moments drew a penalty, which led to the eventual game-winner in overtime from superstar center Nathan MacKinnon, sending the Avalanche to a 5-4 triumph at Ball Arena.
Nichushkin also scored the game-tying goal with 7:39 remaining in regulation.
“He’s just establishing himself net front,” head coach Jared Bednar said of Nichushkin, who has 19 goals and 38 points in 36 games. “We wanted to sort of repeat the third period from the other night. Part of that is shooting the puck and part of that is getting multiple players to the net front to battle for screens, tips, rebounds, etc. Val’s the first guy going there, and he got rewarded twice for it.”
The Avs trailed 4-3 with 9:42 remaining in the second period. But it didn’t feel like a one-sided game. And if it did, the ice was tilted more in Colorado’s favor. Starting goalie Alexandar Georgiev struggled early but found his game as the night went on. The Avs’ top netminder has started each of the last eight games since being given somewhat of a mental reset nearly three weeks ago. He is 6-1-1 since, though Tuesday’s performance wasn’t his best.
After allowing four goals on 15 shots in just over 30 minutes, Georgiev saw just seven shots the rest of the way. Colorado kept its foot on the pedal and dominated throughout, scoring two straight and allowing its netminder ample opportunity to stop the minimal shots he faced.
“I thought we played great. I thought we had a great start. Honestly, couple of unlucky breakdowns,” MacKinnon said. “We really outplayed them for 60 minutes and we almost doubled their shots. I’m sure scoring chances were in our favor. So overall, I thought it was a good game by us.”
MacKinnon’s tally came just 32 seconds into the overtime period. And it was all thanks to the power play that Nichushkin gave his team. With less than a minute remaining in regulation, Nichushkin, strong on the backcheck, picked the puck off of J.G. Pageau’s stick and quickly bolted the other way. He bull-rushed his way through both defensemen, splitting the pair before dragging the puck to his backhand for the shot.
Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin made the save and eventually halted play before the rebound trickled past him.
Val Nichushkin was inches away from the goal of the night#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/XrABTiq9US
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) January 3, 2024
On the overtime goal, Nichushkin played the net front while the trio of Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen and MacKinnon combined for the one-timer that beat Sorokin on the first shot of the OT period.
“Great setup, a great one touched by Cale,” MacKinnon said of the goal. “We wanted to try to be tight and connected. That was kind of the message before. And just hammer away. One of us just hammer away and eventually, we figured we’d get one to go.”
Georgiev’s tough night began in the first period. Following an early attack from the Avs, the Islanders sent the puck the other way, springing Pierre Engvall for the goal. Colorado had dominated to that point and picked up right where it left off on the ensuing faceoff. Just 32 seconds after the opening goal, former Islander Devon Toews wired it past goalie Semyon Varlamov with traffic in front of the net.
Toews’ sixth of the season improved his career-best point streak to six games. Since being acquired from the Islanders in an offseason trade four years ago, Toews has recorded a point in all but one game against his former team. He has three goals and seven points in seven games.
Moments after his tally, the Avs received the game’s first power play. Despite being unable to capitalize, they managed to move the puck well and get ample opportunity. They later received another man-advantage opportunity and came up empty again. And just before the intermission, MacKinnon was called for roughing behind the play for punching Scott Mayfield while the two were tangled up.
Fifteen seconds later, the Isles beat Georgiev on the power play. It was 2-1 New York with just 32 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
The Islanders quickly added to their lead thanks to a tally from Simon Holmstrom — a saveable shot from the circle that beat Georgiev from a tight angle.
Despite the tough stretch, the Avs kept attacking and were rewarded with two goals in just over four minutes. First, Nichushkin tallied his first of the evening on the rebound just seconds after the Avs’ third power play opportunity ended. Then, it was Drouin wiring it past goalie Ilya Sorokin off a feed from Mikko Rantanen.
Sorokin had replaced Varlamov late in the first period. Varlamov, who spent eight seasons in Colorado, suffered an unspecified injury. He was also listed as day-to-day last week before returning for this contest. Varlamov stopped 11-of-12 shots he faced in just under 15 minutes.
The Avs’ offensive attack continued with Sorokin between the pipes. He faced 27 shots, making 23 saves including 11 in the third period.
Colorado also welcomed Ross Colton back into the lineup. The centerman missed two games following an injury last week in Arizona. Colton centered the third line with Ben Meyers and Logan O’Connor. He was mostly a non-factor and was eased into the lineup. Colton played just 7:19 through two periods — among the lowest for all skaters on either side. He finished with one shot and a +1 rating in 12:45.
On their fourth power play of the evening, the Avs finally found the back of the net to tie things up at 4-4. Makar fired a point shot that broke his stick, sending the puck right to MacKinnon beside the goal. He was able to quickly set up Nichushkin in front for his second of the game and the first of two consecutive power-play goals for the Avs. They finished 2-for-5 on the man advantage.