Colorado lost their top scorer in the playoffs. The Russian forward failed a drug test

Without their key player, the Avalanche will have to reverse their unfavorable quarterfinal series with Dallas. The Avalanche’s top scorer will miss at least six months due to violations of the league’s assist program and NHLPA rules.

Twenty-nine-year-old Valeri Nichushkin failed a drug test, according to media reports. The Russian forward was unable to play in the fourth game of the series against Dallas and learned of his punishment just an hour before the opening faceoff.

Colorado was unable to keep up with Dallas at home and lost 1:5. Despite the defeat, Dallas took the series lead 3:1 and will have the first power play in the next game.

Nichushkin violated the rules

The fact that Russian forward Valery Nichushkin will no longer be able to help their opponent in the semifinals will also help them advance. He was already enrolled in January in an assistance program that helps players and their families with mental health problems or addictions. In March, it appeared that Nichushkin didn’t need any more help and left the program, but now he is in the third phase, according to league officials.

That’s where players who have been in the program and violated its rules appear. The 29-year-old Russian will not play in this season and will miss the start of the next one.

He won’t be able to help his team in the fight for the Stanley Cup

Nichushkin has scored nine goals during this year’s playoffs and leads the scoring table along with Edmonton’s Zach Hyman. The Stanley Cup winner from last year will be sorely missed in his team’s quest to save the series. In addition to the aforementioned penalty, he will also have to accept the fact that he will not be paid during the suspension.

Dallas will continue with Colorado in Game 5, which is scheduled for Wednesday night. The game in Dallas will start at 2 a.m. CST. In addition to the suspended Nichushkin, the visitors will miss long-injured Swede Gabriel Landeskog and also injured Canadian forward Logan O’Connor.

The winner of this matchup will advance to the Western Conference Finals, which will then determine the winner for the final battle with the top team from the East. In the West, Dallas and Vancouver are the closest teams to the winner, leading 2-1 in the series with Edmonton. In the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers are one win away from advancing, with a 3-2 lead over Carolina. Even Florida has two wins, currently leading Boston 3:1.

Source: ESPN, X