The Seattle Police Department said a "highly intoxicated" woman was found by Colorado Avalanche staff when checking on forward Valeri Nichushkin at the team's hotel in Seattle before Game 3, according to a report obtained by The Hockey News.

A Seattle Police Department incident report said a "highly intoxicated" woman was found by Colorado Avalanche employees when the team doctor was checking on forward Valeri Nichushkin hours before Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 22.

The responding officer said they met with a "highly intoxicated" woman in the back of an ambulance at the Four Seasons Hotel. Police were called to the scene just before 3:45 p.m.

Avalanche team doctor, Bradley Changstrom, said team staff found the 28-year-old woman when they went to check on Nichushkin.

"CHANGSTROM stated that (woman's name removed by THN) was located by team employees when they were checking on one of the players Valeri Nichushkin. CHANGSTROM stated that he observed (woman's name removed by THN) in the room heavily intoxicated," the report said. 

Changstrom told police he called 911 for an ambulance because the woman was incapable of taking a cab or ride-share on her own. The report said the woman "hit" Changstrom but he didn't press charges. 

A Denver Police Department officer who was traveling with the team said "there were no reports of any criminal interactions," the report said.

Changstrom told police there was no familial connection between Nichushkin and the woman that he was aware of. 

The woman told police "some guy took her passport" and that she was from Russia but was born in Ukraine. 

She was taken to a local medical center by ambulance.

Nichushkin was absent from the team's morning skate for maintenance and missed Game 3.

Nichushkin has dealt with injuries this season so his maintenance day was not questioned. 

The 28-year-old forward has missed Games 3, 4 and 5 and will miss Game 6. 

Team's response to Nichushkin's absence

Head coach Jared Bednar said after Game 3 that Nichushkin was out for "personal reasons." He also said Nichushkin was no longer with the team and had left Seattle.

Bednar later told reporters that the team had been in contact with Nichushkin and that it was not a legal matter. 

Bednar said there is no timeline for Nichushkin's return and no further details have been provided by the team. 

After the report was released to the media, Bednar has continued to stress that it is a personal and not professional matter for Nichushkin's absence and he would not comment on any questions reporters asked him. 

The Hockey News reached out to the Avalanche public relations department for a comment or statement but was told the team does not have one. 

A request has been made to the Seattle Police Department by THN for a copy of the officer's body-worn camera video of the incident response. That video could take weeks and even months to be released.