The Colorado Avalanche are without high-scoring forward Valeri Nichushkin for what’s left of the playoffs — again. The 29-year-old Russian was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in stage 3 of the league’s player assistance program just hours before the Avalanche lost Game 4 of their second-round series with Dallas on Monday night. Stage 3 means Nichushkin violated terms of the program, which provides help for everything from mental health needs to substance abuse.