Gabriel Landeskog, the captain of the Colorado Avalanche, celebrated a significant milestone by scoring his first professional goal since 2022. This exciting moment occurred during his conditioning assignment with the AHL`s Colorado Eagles.
In a game against the Henderson Silver Knights, Landeskog`s power-play goal brought the Eagles to a tie. He skillfully redirected a shot from the point, sending the puck past the Silver Knights` goalie.
This goal comes after Landeskog`s first game back on Friday, also against Henderson, where he played for nearly 15 minutes. Friday`s game was his first professional appearance since the Avalanche`s victorious Stanley Cup run in 2022.
Reflecting on his return on Friday, Landeskog expressed feeling physically strong and acknowledged areas for improvement, while also emphasizing the enjoyment of being back on the ice.
Landeskog`s injury dates back to the 2020 season when he received a skate cut above the knee. He underwent a cartilage transplant in May 2023 and has been on long-term injured reserve since.
Landeskog shared his long-held anticipation and visualization of returning to competitive hockey, admitting there were times he doubted it would happen. He expressed joy at being back in the game environment.
If his conditioning stint continues positively, there`s a strong possibility the Swedish forward will be ready for the Avalanche`s first-round playoff series. The Avalanche are entering the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Central Division and will begin their postseason journey on the road against the No. 2 seeded Dallas Stars.
Tristan Blackwood