Gabriel Landeskog, the captain of the Colorado Avalanche, scored his first goal since June 2022 in a playoff game Saturday, marking a milestone in his return after a three-year absence due to a knee injury. The goal came in the Avalanche's 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars, evening the second-round series.
Landeskog's goal, scored against Stars goalie Jake Oettinger in the second period, ignited the home crowd. It was his first shot on net in the series, following his return in Game 3. Teammates mobbed him on the ice during the celebration.
The captain had not played an NHL game for three full seasons after undergoing a cartilage transplant procedure on his right knee in May 2023. His return to playoff hockey defied skepticism about his ability to play again.
Avalanche President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic noted the impact of Landeskog's return. Sakic said his play after the long layoff was "just an amazing story."
Head coach Jared Bednar elevated Landeskog to the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin for Saturday's game, also giving him time on the power play. Landeskog finished the game with a goal and an assist in over 14 minutes of ice time.
His teammates expressed their reaction to his performance. Defenseman Cale Makar called his comeback incredible, especially entering the playoffs directly. Forward Nathan MacKinnon said Landeskog's performance was beyond expectations, adding that Landeskog looks like he was only out for four weeks.
The goal felt like more than just a playoff tally, MacKinnon said. He described it as a "life goal" given the difficulty of Landeskog's journey. He joins fellow stars like MacKinnon, Makar, and Mikko Rantanen on the Avalanche roster.
Landeskog acknowledged the significance of the goal but also emphasized the team aspect. He said he had envisioned scoring again for a long time but there were days he doubted if he would. He called the moment "pretty amazing."
Beyond the scoresheet, Landeskog showed his physicality, battling in front of the net with Dallas defenseman Lian Bichsel on the play that led to Samuel Girard's third-period goal. This demonstrated his knee could handle physical contact.
Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland stated Landeskog's return provided an emotional lift for the team, calling him an impactful player who "touches everything we do."
