DENVER — Valeri Nichushkin was a late scratch Monday night against the Washington Capitals, as the Colorado Avalanche announced just before puck drop that the forward had suffered an upper-body injury.

Following the game, head coach Jared Bednar revealed that the 30-year-old was involved in a multi-car accident on his way to the arena.

To fill the void in the lineup, the Avalanche recalled Alex Barre-Boulet, who received the call roughly two hours before puck drop.

Barre-Boulet, an unoriginally undrafted forward who hails from Montreal, made the drive from Loveland and arrived in time to make his Avalanche debut, recording a point in Colorado’s 5-2 win. It marked his first NHL point since December 21, 2023, when he scored a goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Meanwhile, Nichushkin is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Tuesday.

“It was a fender bender, but serious enough to keep him out of the lineup today,” Bednar said. “The roads were icy when the guys were coming in this morning and slick, and there was a multiple vehicle accident.”

The absence marks Nichushkin’s second injury-related setback this season. He previously missed eight games with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in a November 11 game against the Anaheim Ducks, a 4-1 Avalanche win. Through 38 games this season, Nichushkin has recorded 11 goals and 27 points.