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.<\/p>
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.<\/p>