Valeri Nichushkin is getting close to returning, but head coach Jared Bednar could not give a specific game date. On Sunday, he practiced with the team in a regular jersey for the first time but left before the session ended.

The Colorado Avalanche have already swung a few trades this season. But what will they do with the salary cap space they still have?

What an incredible bounceback for the Avalanche. They needed Casey Mittelstadt to get things figured out and he did. His linemates were a big reason why.

The Minnesota Wild feel a sense of urgency despite having nearly half a season left to play. After losing three in a row and four of their last five games, the Wild will look to turn things around on Monday afternoon against the host Colorado Avalanche in Denver.

New York is led by forward Artemi Panarin (17 goals, 28 assists) and defenseman Adam Fox, who has two goals and 31 assists this season. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin has a solid 2.98 goals-against average despite a 13-15-1 record.

The Avalanche passed the first of three straight tests against top Central Division teams and had a great Saturday all around. J.T. Miller almost didn’t play because of a potential trade but ended up dressing in a game that saw two players get ejected late.

When the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers get together, there’s an overflow of offensive firepower available.

Mikko Rantanen played 19:31, Jonathan Drouin was at 16:44 ... Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin exited the building together. Something about that duo, man. This team misses them dearly ...

The Dallas Stars took full advantage of an Avalanche team missing both Valeri Nichushkin and Devon ... in the form of Jonathan Drouin making his Colorado postseason debut, was quickly washed ...

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche will be without playmaking forward Valeri Nichushkin ... Josh Manson and forward Jonathan Drouin before losing Nichushkin, who left a New Year's Eve win ...