The Colorado Avalanche have yet to have forward Valeri Nichuskin in their lineup in the calendar year of 2025. He hasn’t played since their 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on New Year’s Eve. He’s already missed six games,

So many players were on the ice at Colorado Avalanche practice Monday that callup Jason Polin didn’t have a stall in the team’s locker room. In total, eight players who hadn’t been available two days ago when the Avs played in Winnipeg were on the ice at Family Sports Center.

Two veteran Avalanche stars have been sidelined with injuries. And the duo are still a ways away from returning to action..

Nichushkin has already missed six games due to his lower-body injury but seems no closer to getting back into the lineup. Given his recovery timeline, it seems likely the 29-year-old Russian will be designated for injured reserve sooner rather than later.

Despite Blackwood's incredible play, the Avs have been scuffling in the new year. They've gone 4-2-1 in 2025, alternating wins and losses as their offence has started to dry up. Contrast that with the Oilers, who have won seven of their past eight, including two shutouts from Stuart Skinner and five four-goal nights from the offence.

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.

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.

THROUGH GAMES OF SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 2025

The Edmonton Oilers signed veteran defenseman John Klingberg for the rest of the season. Follow this tracker for the latest NHL news.

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The Avalanche and Stars are coming off disappointing home losses, but neither defeat was to a division opponent. Saturday's matchup in Denver could be a four-point swing in the Central Division, where Colorado and Dallas are currently separated by two points.

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