Columbus, Ohio — Valeri Nichushkin returned to haunt his former club as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Colorado Avalanche at Nationwide Arena on November 3, 2026. The Russian forward, who spent parts of four seasons with Colorado before signing with Columbus, found the back of the net against Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood during the second period.
Nichushkin's goal came as part of a strong performance by the Blue Jackets, who capitalized on their familiarity with the Avalanche's tendencies. The 29-year-old winger celebrated his tally against the organization that drafted him 10th overall in 2013 and where he won a Stanley Cup in 2022.
Blackwood, who joined Colorado in the offseason, faced a barrage of shots from his new division rivals. The game marked another chapter in the growing rivalry between the Metropolitan and Central Division clubs, with former teammates now opposing each other on the ice.
