Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog netted his first NHL goal in almost three years during the second period of Game 4 against the Dallas Stars on Saturday night in Denver.
The fans reacted with great excitement after Landeskog`s wrist shot found the back of the net. His teammates quickly came to celebrate with him by the boards, and Nathan MacKinnon gave him a hug on the bench. Landeskog`s goal, assisted by Brock Nelson, extended the Avalanche`s lead to 3-0.
This was Landeskog`s first goal since scoring on June 20, 2022, during the Stanley Cup Finals against Tampa Bay. The Avalanche lifted the Cup just six days later.
The 32-year-old forward missed three full regular seasons due to a persistent right knee injury. His return to action was in Game 3 of the current series, marking approximately 1,032 days since his previous NHL appearance.
Landeskog`s knee issue originated in the 2020 “bubble” season when he was accidentally cut above the knee by the skate of his teammate, Cale Makar, during a playoff game against Dallas. He eventually underwent a cartilage transplant procedure on May 10, 2023, and has remained on long-term injured reserve since then.
Tristan Blackwood