Avalanche star placed in player assistance program

The Colorado Avalanche are losing their leading playoff goal scorer.

Right wing Valeri Nichushkin, who has nine goals in the Avalanche's eight playoff games this season, was placed in Stage 3 of the National Hockey League/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Monday night.

Colorado was preparing to host the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of a Western Conference second-round playoff series at Ball Arena in Denver later on Monday night.

Under the terms of the joint program, Nichushkin will be suspended without pay for a minimum of six months and then will be eligible to apply for reinstatement.

Nichushkin, 29 had 28 goals and 53 points in 54 games during the regular season.

During a nine-season career with the Avalanche and the Dallas Stars,  Nichushkin has 116 goals and 274 points in 512 games.