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Nikita Zadorov says big hit from Washington's Tom Wilson was "clean"

Frederick Breedon, Getty Images)

NASHVILLE, tenn. — Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov returned to the lineup against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night after missing Sunday's loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Zadorov was shaken up when taking a hit from Washington's Tom Wilson on Friday and was done for the night, but the young Russian said he didn't have a quarrel with Wilson.

"It was a clean hit. That's why I recovered so fast," Zadorov said after the morning skate Tuesday. "It wasn't the head or anything. It happened. I've been hitting all my life, and now it's probably time for me to get hit from someone.