After nearly three years away due to injury, the Avalanche captain is expected to rejoin the lineup in a crucial playoff showdown at Ball Arena.
Gabriel Landeskog is about to make his long-awaited return to NHL action, and Avalanche fans couldn’t be happier. The Colorado captain, who hasn’t played a game in nearly three years, is expected to suit up for Game 3 of the first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night at Ball Arena. His return comes at a critical moment, with the series tied 1-1 and momentum up for grabs.
Landeskog last played on June 26, 2022, the night the Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup after a hard-fought win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since then, he’s battled through a nightmare stretch of injuries, most notably a persistent issue with his right knee. A major surgery involving a cartilage transplant last May was just one of several steps in a long and uncertain road back to the game he loves.
After taking part in two games with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles earlier this month on a conditioning stint, Landeskog slowly began re-integrating with the Avalanche. He joined the team for morning skates, came off long-term injured reserve, and even warmed up ahead of Game 2, but ultimately didn’t play.
As head coach Jared Bednar put it, the whole team, and really, the whole fanbase, is rooting for him. In a postseason where every shift counts, the Avalanche couldn’t ask for a better boost than the return of their captain.
Now, it’s different. On Wednesday morning, Landeskog was seen skating with the second power-play unit, a strong sign that he’s ready for full game action. For a player who’s been through so much physically and emotionally, just stepping onto the ice in a playoff game will be a win in itself.
Landeskog has always been a force for the Avalanche, both on and off the ice. With 571 points in 738 career regular-season games and 67 more in the playoffs, he ranks among the franchise’s all-time greats. But more than stats, it’s his leadership and grit that make his return so important to Colorado’s playoff hopes.
Image Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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