Disciplinary reasons

Colorado top scorer suspended again in playoffs

Valeri Nitschuschkin was suspended again.(Bild: AP/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Colorado Avalanche lost top scorer Valery Nchushkin for disciplinary reasons on Monday and subsequently his home game in the NHL play-off against the Dallas Stars 1:5. The Russian forward Nitschuschkin was suspended for at least six months by the league and the players' union (NHLPA).

It was not disclosed which rules the 29-year-old "repeat offender" violated. The program offers therapy and guarantees confidentiality.

Alcohol in the hotel room
Nitschuschkin ended up in the league's support program for players in need of help for the third time in 13 months. In April 2023, the Russian was already suspended once for an incident involving alcohol and a drunk woman in his hotel room (before a game in Seattle). This year, Nitschuschkin missed another two months from January to March because he had already been banned from the therapy program back then. Nitschuschkin had scored nine goals in the current play-off. In the conference semifinals against Dallas, his team is now trailing 1:3.

The New York Rangers, who were so confident for so long, are also in trouble. They won their first seven play-off games, but recently suffered two defeats against the Carolina Hurricanes, reducing the Rangers' lead in the series from 3-0 to 3-2. The New York Rangers led 1-0 against Carolina until the 43rd minute, but then conceded four goals in 13 minutes and lost 1-4.

NHL play-off results from Monday (2nd round/conference semifinals, "best of seven"):

Western Conference: 
Colorado Avalanche - Dallas Stars 1:5 (series score: 1:3)

Eastern Conference: 
New York Rangers - Carolina Hurricanes 1:4 (series score: 3:2)