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Valeri Nichushkin a 'possibility' to return for Avalanche vs. Devils

NHL: Seattle Kraken at Colorado AvalancheDec 22, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) reacts after his goal in the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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.

Winger Valeri Nichushkin practiced with the team Tuesday and could return, though coach Jared Bednar would not fully commit to writing his number on one of Colorado’s lines.

“He is a possibility for (Wednesday),” Bednar said after practice. “He’s one of the top players in the league, so getting him back — when we get him back — will be helpful.”

Nichushkin has been a force when he plays, but he hasn’t been available much this season. He was out until mid-November, missing his team’s first 17 games while serving a suspension. He returned to pile up 11 goals and six assists in 21 games but has not played since Dec. 31 due to a lower-body injury.

Colorado has missed his offense, especially in the two games played since the break. The Avalanche scored just one goal in each loss at Nashville and St. Louis, further hampering their efforts to climb above the wild-card fray in the Western Conference.

Even though he has missed 38 games this season, Nichushkin is tied for fifth among players currently on the team with his 11 goals. Colorado is paced by reigning Most Valuable Player Nathan MacKinnon with 87 points (21 goals and a league-best 66 assists).

Cale Makar (22 goals, 42 assists) leads all NHL defensemen in goals and points, Martin Necas also owns 64 points (20 goals, 44 assists) and Artturi Lehkonen’s 34 points (23 goals, 11 assists) is fourth in scoring for Colorado.

Wednesday will be the first home game for the Avalanche since Feb. 2 and kicks off a six-game, 12-day homestand.

They face a New Jersey team coming off a 5-0 win at Nashville, which continues the Devils’ trend of up-and-down play. New Jersey has not won or lost consecutive games since the end of January and stand third in the Metropolitan Division.

New Jersey is led by Jack Hughes (26 goals, 42 assists) and Jesper Bratt (17 goals, 51 assists). Hughes competed in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament for the United States while Bratt played for Sweden.

Nico Hischier (24 goals, 22 assists) is the only other Devils player who has reached 20 goals this season.

Hughes didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice after playing in all four games for the United States in the tournament. With Wednesday being the only game in a span of seven days, it gave him a chance to rest.

Goaltender Nico Daws would probably prefer playing more after recording his first NHL shutout in Sunday’s win over the Predators. The 24-year-old Daws has been impressive in his NHL appearances this season — posting a 2-0-0 record with an 0.84 goals-against average and a .986 save percentage.

In 49 total games over the past three seasons, he sits 21-22-1 with a 3.00 GAA and .897 save percentage.

“He was unreal,” Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton said of Daws’ play Sunday. “We gave up some chances, some looks, and they were playing hard. We just capitalized on some chances.”

–Field Level Media

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Pete Crow-Armstrong fills stat sheet as Cubs plaster Pirates

Jul 25, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (middle) greets center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) returning to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (middle) greets center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) returning to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pete Crow-Armstrong filled the box score, going 4-for-5 with three runs, two doubles, a two-run home run, three RBIs and a stolen base to power the Chicago Cubs to an 11-0 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

Dansby Swanson added two hits, two runs and an RBI, while Miguel Amaya scored twice and drove in two runs. Michael Busch went 3-for-6 with two RBIs, and Seiya Suzuki also drove in two runs in the Cubs’ 16-hit attack.

Shota Imanaga (7-8) threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits while walking one and striking out four. Javier Assad earned his first save with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit while walking none and striking out three.

The Cubs took a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. Swanson and Amaya singled with one out before Crow-Armstrong ripped an RBI double into the right-center gap to open the scoring. Suzuki followed with a line drive over the glove of a leaping Ryan O’Hearn at first, driving in Amaya and Crow-Armstrong.

An inning later, Chicago sent 11 batters to the plate and stretched its advantage to 8-0. Ian Happ opened the inning by grounding out. But Nico Hoerner singled, Pedro Ramirez walked, and Isaac Mattson relieved Pirates starter Paul Skenes.

Swanson greeted Mattson with an RBI double to left for a 4-0 lead. Amaya’s single drove in Ramirez and Swanson. Crow-Armstrong laced a double to right and Amaya advanced to third.

Suzuki struck out looking, but Busch knocked in Amaya and Crow-Armstrong with a two-out single, giving the Cubs an 8-0 lead. After Alex Bregman walked, Pittsburgh again went to the bullpen and Ron Marinaccio walked Happ, but Hoerner lined out to left with the bases loaded.

Crow-Armstrong launched his 23rd home run, a two-run shot to right, and the Cubs’ lead grew to 10-0 in the seventh. Pinch hitter James Triantos collected his first major league hit, a single, in the eighth and scored from first on Ramirez’s double.

Skenes (9-9) gave up five runs on six hits, walked two and struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

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New England Revolution blast Atlanta United to climb up East standings

Jul 25, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Dor Turgeman (11) protects the ball from Atlanta United defense Junior Alonso (6) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Dor Turgeman (11) protects the ball from Atlanta United defense Junior Alonso (6) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Carles Gil and Dor Turgeman each scored a first-half goal while Matt Turner made six saves on Saturday to help the New England Revolution earn a 4-1 victory over Atlanta United in Foxborough, Mass.

Peyton Miller and Brooklyn Raines also scored a goal apiece for New England (9-5-2, 29 points), which passed the Chicago Fire (26 points) for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta (3-11-3, 12 points) extended its winless stretch to six games and fell to 1-6-2 away from home. Miguel Almiron scored a goal in the 85th minute to help the visitors avoid their eighth shutout of the year. Atlanta’s 17 goals scored are the fewest in the league.

New England tacked on to its 2-0 halftime lead in the 56th minute, as Miller tallied his fourth goal of the year to give the Revolution a three-goal advantage. Alhassan Yusuf picked up his second assist of the match in the process.

In the 67th minute, Raines scored the first goal of his MLS career. Assisted by Jackson Yueill, Raines’ left-footed strike marked just the second time New England has scored four-plus goals in a game this season.

After Almiron’s early shot was saved by Turner, New England found the back of the net at the 11-minute mark, as Matt Polster found Gil for his team-leading sixth-goal of the season.

Polster, recording his first assist of the year, left the ball for the New England star, who shook defender Tristan Muyumba and fired in a left-footed shot past the sprawling Lucas Hoyos.

Turgeman threatened to double New England’s advantage in the 26th minute, but Hoyos made his first save to preserve the one-goal deficit.

Turgeman broke through 10 minutes later, however, as the 22-year-old scored his third goal of the season. Yusuf’s perfectly placed cross found Turgeman in the box, where a left-footed shot made it 2-0.

Despite the two-goal halftime-margin, Atlanta put seven shots on goal in the first half to New England’s four.

–Field Level Media

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Agustin Ojeda, NYCFC score early, douse Fire

Jul 25, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York City Football Club offense Agustin Ojeda (26) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Fire FC during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn ImagesJul 25, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York City Football Club offense Agustin Ojeda (26) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Fire FC during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images

Agustin Ojeda scored a goal and added an assist Saturday night as New York City FC shredded the visiting Chicago Fire’s defense in the first half of a 3-1 win at Yankee Stadium.

Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Malachi Jones also scored for NYCFC (7-6-4, 25 points), which won their second straight fixture despite numbering nine players on the injured list. NYCFC earned an 11-9 advantage in shots as Chicago couldn’t consistently maintain its defensive shape.

Joel Waterman scored the only goal for the Fire (8-6-2, 26 points). Newly-signed striker Robert Lewandowski played the second half in his second match with Chicago and generated a shot.

The storylines for each team prior to kickoff couldn’t have been more diverse. While NYCFC was coming off a solid 2-1 win Wednesday night at Columbus, the Fire suffered a 3-2 loss at Miami that had coach Gregg Berhalter upset because of their poor defense.

It took just 10 minutes for Berhalter to see a rerun of Wednesday night. A failed clearing attempt and weak marking presented Fernandez Mercau space to wire a shot from just past the top of the 18-yard box by goalie Chris Brady. The shot carried a goal expectancy of only 2%.

Chicago equalized in the 21st minute off a set piece. NYCFC deflected a free kick but Waterman pounced on it at the left post, roofing a shot under the crossbar for his first goal of the year.

But Ojeda put NYCFC ahead for good eight minutes later. Andres Perea sent him down the right side and Ojeda angled a sharply-struck shot past Brady that hit the inside of the left post before nestling into the net.

Ojeda played the feeder’s role in the 41st minute as the Fire again lost their defensive structure. Perea found Ojeda on the right side and he passed into the middle, giving Jones a point-blank opportunity that he converted.

Goalie Matt Freese helped protect the lead for NYCFC in the second half, coming up with four of his five saves.

–Field Level Media

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