Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin put on a show during the first period of Game 3 against the Dallas Stars in the opening round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.
With the Avalanche on the power play midway through the first period, Nichushkin took the puck and proceeded to skate circles around the Dallas defense, eventually beating goalie Jake Oettinger with a sick move.
Here’s a look at the goal:
Valeri Nichuskin undressed Dallas blue liner Thomas Harley and then left former Avalanche Matt Duchene standing like a statue, unable to figure out what to do.
The goal was Valeri Nichushkin’s first of the postseason, with defensemen Sam Malinski and Samuel Girard getting the assists. The lead would hold after 20 minutes, with the two teams playing a tight-checking game.
Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.
Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early ’90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.
Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can’t for stories.
When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.
![[Watch] Valeri Nichushkin undresses Dallas Stars defense with nifty move to open scoring in Game 3](https://i3.wp.com/staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/04/26000061-1745464793.jpeg?w=860&resize=860,0&ssl=1 "[Watch] Valeri Nichushkin undresses Dallas Stars defense with nifty move to open scoring in Game 3")
