> At a Glance
> – Gabriel Landeskog will miss time after upper-body injury in 2-1 loss to Florida.
> – Colorado stays league-best with a 31-3-7 record and 69 points.
> – Landeskog has played every game this season, tallying 7 goals and 15 assists.
> – Why it matters: His absence could affect the Avalanche’s playoff push and Sweden’s Olympic roster.
In a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog suffered an upper-body injury that will sideline him for an uncertain period, according to coach Jared Bednar. The incident came as Colorado kept its league-best 31-3-7 record after 41 games, but the loss highlights the team’s vulnerability without its key playmaker. Landeskog has appeared in every game this season, tallying 7 goals and 15 assists.
Incident Details
During the second period, Landeskog crashed into a goalpost, sliding headfirst along the ice after his left knee appeared to buckle. He was down behind the goal for several minutes and was unable to skate off under his own power. The injury is an upper-body issue, not a knee problem, as noted by Nathan MacKinnon.
- Upper-body injury confirmed
- Not a knee injury, per Nathan MacKinnon
- Still being evaluated post-game
Impact on Avalanche
The Avalanche remain the league’s best team with a 31-3-7 record and 69 points, the second-most through 41 games in NHL history. Landeskog’s absence could affect the team’s playoff push and his selection to represent Sweden at the Milan Cortina Olympics next month. He has played every game this season, recording 7 goals and 15 assists.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Games played | 41 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 15 |
He had missed more than 1,000 days of play due to knee issues.
Player & Coach Reactions
Nathan MacKinnon said:
> “It’s not his knee.”
Nathan MacKinnon added:
> “Bones heal. They just heal normally.”
> “Tendons, ligaments are kind of scary injuries in sports. I think after the process he had, obviously, it looked horrible and it’s definitely scary, devastating to see a guy like that hurt like that because he’s so tough. But the one bright side, maybe, is it’s not his knee.”
Jared Bednar said:
> “He’s still getting looked at and diagnosed, but it did not look comfortable.”
> “He’s going to miss some time for sure.”
Jared Bednar added:
> “No player wants to see another player, regardless of what team they’re on or who they’re playing for, get seriously hurt.”
> “Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious.”
Paul Maurice said:
> “It’s a sensitive subject for us.”
Paul Maurice added:
> “If you love the game, you follow what he’s had to go through to get back. You’re also very aware of how important he is to that team. … I’m just hopeful that it’s short term. He’s been through enough. He’s too important. Just the game of hockey, we need him on the ice.”
Key Takeaways
- Landeskog’s upper-body injury could sideline him and affect the Avalanche’s playoff push.
- The team remains league-best with a 31-3-7 record and 69 points.
- Landeskog’s absence also impacts Sweden’s Olympic roster for the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The Avalanche will need to rely on its depth as it continues its playoff chase.
