Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1 in Denver on Wednesday night.

The Colorado Avalanche have stumbled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but they may get a key player back when they host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night.

Valeri Nichushkin is going to return Wednesday night against the New Jersey Devils. He’s been out since Dec. 31 with a lower-body injury. He’s expected to start on the second line and the second power-play unit.

It’s a years-long trend since he arrived in Denver and had a breakout season when the Avs won the Stanley Cup. Just in the years since the title, Colorado is 89-30-10 during the regular season when Nichushkin plays and 46-43-6 when he doesn’t.

The Avalanche are preparing to welcome Valeri Nichushkin back into their lineup for the first time since late December.

The Avalanche are getting Valeri Nichushkin back on Wednesday, head coach Jared Bednar announced during his weekly radio segment. The 29-year-old forward has missed every game since the calendar turned to 2025.

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13 ... back from the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The game against the New Jersey Devils will be Nichushkin’s first since Dec. 31. “You can’t underestimate how much he means to this ...

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, left, is congratulated after scoring a goal by left wing Artturi Lehkonen, back right, and center Martin Necas in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) AP

It took 25 seconds for Valeri Nichushkin to make an impact Wednesday ... but his return was a successful one in a 5-1 thumping of the New Jersey Devils. And it started right from his first shift.