For the second time in as many seasons, Valeri Nichushkin stood in front of a horde of assembled media and spoke after being sent away from the Avalanche during the previous Stanley Cup Playoffs. Speaking after his season debut, a 5-2 loss to Washington at Ball Arena, Nichushkin addressed the work he did while serving a six-month suspension in Stage 3 of the NHL-NHLPA player assistance program. “It was tough,” Nichushkin said.