Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) celebrates his first ever hat trick after scoring an empty net goal late in the 3rd period against Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55), left, and center Mason Appleton (22) to win game four 5-1 of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) gets up on ice behind Nichushkin. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche center Valeri Nichushkin (13) scores his second power play goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the second period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)- Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) skates through hats on the ice after his first ever hat trick after scoring an empty net goal late in the 3rd period to win game four 5-1 of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche fans celebrate at the start of the third period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- A young Colorado Avalanche fan watches game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche swarm Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) after Lehkonen scored against the Winnipeg Jets in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche left wing Zach Parise (9) gather the puck against Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8), Mikko Rantanen (96), Valeri Nichushkin (13) and Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) celebrate Valeri Nichushkin’s power play goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the second period during Game 4 of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) scores a power play goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) in the second period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) skates across the blue line moments before scoring against the Winnipeg Jets in the second period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) skates the puck across the blue line against Winnipeg Jets center Vladislav Namestnikov (7) in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) goes after the puck against Winnipeg Jets right wing Nino Niederreiter (62) in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche left wing Zach Parise (9) and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey (44) head down ice in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry (17) face off in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sean Walker (26) and Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) chase down the puck across the blue line in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sean Walker (26) handles the puck against Winnipeg Jets center Sean Monahan (23) in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) sends the puck in the zone against Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) in the first period during game four of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) celebrates his first ever hat trick after scoring an empty net goal late in the 3rd period against Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55), left, and center Mason Appleton (22) to win game four 5-1 of the first round of the NHL playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) gets up on ice behind Nichushkin. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
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By Andy Cross | across@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The Colorado Avalanche beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday afternoon, April 28, 2024, at Ball Arena in Denver.
Colorado leads the series 3-1. Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) picked up his first NHL hat trick after scoring an empty net goal late in the third period.
Read the full game story here.
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