After getting shutout just once all of last year, the Avalanche were held without a goal in their eighth game of the season on Friday.

Colorado was blanked 1-0 by the New Jersey Devils, dropping to 4-3-1.

Valeri Nichushkin missed the game with a lower-body injury, effectively ending his seven-game point streak to start the season. Nichushkin has seven goals and 12 points in seven games, which ranks second in the NHL in goals and third in points. He’s also tied for the most power-play goals in the league (5).

In goal, the Avs turned to Pavel Francouz, who made 22 saves in the loss and dropped to 0-3-0. Colorado outshot the Devils 24-22.

The lone goal came from Devils forward Jack Hughes on the power play early in the third period. After a hot start to the season on the man advantage, the Avalanche were scoreless in six opportunities, including a 6-on-4 chance in the final moments with the goalie pulled.

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Aarif Deen is our Colorado Avalanche beat reporter. He covers Avs games live from Ball Arena and attends practices, media availabilities and other events pertaining to the Avs on the daily beat. He is also a co-host of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast. Deen joined Mile High Sports upon completing his bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Before Mile High Sports, Deen worked as the assistant sports information director for the Michigan Wolverines Athletics Department.
Follow him on Twitter @runwriteAarif

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