NHL: Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche - Source: Imagn — Valeri Nichushkin extends goal streak in Avalanche's 5-2 win over Kraken, Cale Makar praises teammate (Source: Imagn)

Cale Makar makes his feelings known about $49,000,000 Avs forward's 4-game goal streak

Modified Dec 23, 2024 10:50 GMT

Cale Makar shared his thoughts on Valeri Nichushkin’s four-game goal streak after the Avalanche’s 5-2 win over Seattle. The win completed a three-game sweep of the Kraken and improved the Avalanche's record to 21-15-0 on the season

Nichushkin has been a consistent scorer, netting n his last four games. On Sunday, he had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over Seattle. He also scored once and added an assist in a 4-2 win over Anaheim two days earlier. On Thursday, he had scored a goal in a 4-2 win over San Jose, while he contributed an assist in the loss to Vancouver on Dec. 16.

Cale Makar praised Nichushkin’s ability to create space in front of the net, making things easier for his teammates.

“As a D-man, it's hard to move big bodies like that,” Makar said... “When he plants himself in front of the net, it's it's fun for me, at least, because I can try and shoot it, shoot it at him, or shoot around, because he's got such a good stick too.”

Cale Makar noted that Nichushkin’s presence and his hard work have been key to the Avalanche’s success. Makar also spoke highly of Nichushkin’s play alongside skilled players like Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon.

"I think anybody you put Val with, he's always an attack mentality," Makar said. "He's a really hard working guy. So another guy that you'd love to see get rewarded for, game to game."

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Nichushkin, who's under an eight-year, $49 million contract with the Avalanche, continues to be a key player for the Avalanche, who next face the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City on Friday.

Joel Kiviranta scored his first NHL hat-trick as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Seattle Kraken 5-2.

Cale Makar powers Avalanche to 5-2 victory over Kraken with key goal and assist

Cale Makar gave Colorado a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 10:05 in the first period. Jared McCann tied it for Seattle at 17:55 before Kaapo Kakko put the Kraken 2-1 ahead with a goal early in the second.

Valeri Nichushkin tied it at 2-2, scoring off Nathan MacKinnon's rebound at 4:06 before Kiviranta put Colorado 3-2 ahead with a one-timer on a 2-on-1 rush at 12:01.

He completed his hat trick with empty-net goals, at 17:26 and 18:28, to make it 5-2.