Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov has delivered a team-high 129 hits, leads the active roster with three fighting majors and continues to play like his team has a chance to make the postseason. If nothing else, the 21-year-old Russian is giving Colorado fans reason to hope for a return to the playoffs next season and beyond.
Zadorov, despite serving seven minutes of penalties in the third period Saturday, logged more than 25 minutes of playing time in a 5-2 victory over Winnipeg that ended the Avs’ nine-game losing streak. Zadorov, 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, made three big hits in the game, the last on prized young forward Mark Scheifele that sparked a mini-brawl with 10:18 remaining.