Nichushkin was unhappy with his playing time in Dallas and the 21-year-old restricted free agent has decided to return to Russia for the 2016-17 season. Nichushkin was the 10th overall pick in 2013 but has yet to develop into the scoring power-forward that he was expected to become. He had just 29 points (9G / 20A) in 79 games last season and 64 points (23G / 41A) across 166 career NHL games.
MacKinnon, 20, was the first overall pick in 2013 and is coming off of three strong seasons to start his NHL career. In 2015-16, MacKinnon had 21 goals and 31 assists (52 points) in 72 games. He has missed 28 games over the three years, but has scored at a strong pace—22 goals, 35 assists per 82 games. Entering his age 21 season, expect MacKinnon to take another step forward.
The Avalanche announced earlier in the week that MacKinnon would be shutdown for the week and reevaluate his status on Sunday. It doesn’t sound like he has improved as he and Matt Duchene will miss the Avs’ two-game road trip in Nashville and St. Louis.
Wedgewood stopped the first 25 shots he faced before giving up a goal in overtime in Friday’s 1-0 loss to the Capitals. He has been sensational since being recalled from Albany, going 2-0-1 with a 0.66 GAA, .978 SV% and one shutout. He will look to keep things rolling against a Hurricanes team on a back-to-back, that has gone 1-2-4 while averaging 2.14 goals per game in their last seven.
Wedgewood stopped all 39 shots that he faced in the Devils shutout win over the Penguins last night. Despite a heavy workload, he will start again tonight vs. the Capitals. He has won each of his first two NHL starts while sipping 66 of 67 shots (.985 SV%). He faces a Washington team that has won three of their last four.
After Thursday's game, Hynes said he was undecided on who would start after Wedgewood posted a 39-save shutout vs. the Penguins. He has stopped 66 of 67 shots since being called-up.
Wedgewood stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Devils win over the Blue Jackets on Sunday. It was an impressive NHL debut from the 23-year-old netminder, who will get a stiffer test tonight in Pittsburgh. Wedgewood was 9-2-3 with a 1.69 GAA and .928 SV% with Albany before he was recalled, but Pittsburgh comes in having won six consecutive games while averaging 4.00 goals per game.
MacKinnon will miss at least the next two games before he is reevaluated on Sunday. The Avalanche said there will be no further updates until that time. This is obviously a massive hit to the Avs’ playoff chances—they are currently clinging to the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, just one spot up on Minnesota, who they’ll play on Saturday with out MacKinnon or Matt Duchene.
MacKinnon was scratched from Sunday’s game with a knee injury and is listed as day-to-day. Thankfully for the Avalanche, they’re off until Thursday, so there’s a chance that MacKinnon could be available versus the Flyers.
It looks like Nelson will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday with Mikhail Grabovski returning to the lineup from an upper-body injury. Nelson has just one goal and no assists in his last 12 games.
Landeskog cross-checked Ducks’ defenseman Simon Despres in the head during Wednesday’s win and has been suspended for the next three games. With Landeskog suspended, Andreas Martinsen will return to the lineup. The Avalanche captain is eligible to return to the lineup next Sunday in Edmonton.
Nichushkin was scratched from last night’s game because of a lower-body injury, but will get back in the lineup tonight. There was no indication on who would come out to make room for Nichushkin, but we will find out in warmups. Nichushkin has just 13 points (4G / 9A) this season and hasn’t registered a point since December 15th.
