Gabe Landeskog still not skating. But still scheduled to return to Avalanche lineup by playoffs.
Avalanche left wing and team captain Gabe Landeskog has not yet begun on-ice activities in his recovery from knee surgery but remains on pace to return to the lineup by the playoffs.
“That’s the goal,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said after Monday’s practice.
Landeskog hasn’t played since March 10 at Carolina. He underwent knee surgery on March 13 and has missed 13 games. Through 51 games, Landeskog was on pace for a career-best season in goals (30) and points (59).
Colorado has 10 remaining regular-season games, with the finale on April 29 at Minnesota. The Stanley Cup playoffs could begin as early as May 3.
Center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Ryan Murray are the two other injured Avs. Both skated on their own and with skills coach Shawn Allard on Monday before the full team practice.
Kadri has missed four games with a neck or shoulder injury. Murray blocked a shot with his arm on March 21 and has missed nine games.
“They’ve both been skating for a little while now, so pushing towards a return,” Bednar said.
The Avs, who have put together a six-game winning streak without their injured players, have climbed to 110 points and lead the Western Conference by 13 points over second-place Calgary. Colorado (52-14-6) will have home-ice advantage at least through the Western Conference finals.
If the Avs win the President’s Trophy with the NHL’s best record for the second consecutive season they will also have four potential home games in a seven-game series in the Stanley Cup Final. The Eastern Conference-leading Florida Panthers (51-15-6) trail the Avs by just two points. Florida also has 10 remaining regular-season games and is Colorado’s primary competitor for the President’s Trophy.
“We got it last year, so it would be cool to get it again,” defenseman Cale Makar said Monday. “But the only way that matters is when we get to the Final, when we would have that extra home-ice advantage. That’s kind of the way that I look at it. If you want to secure that, that’s fine, but there’s so much work to be done before that.”
Footnotes. Forward Logan O’Connor and defenseman Devon Toews skipped practice Monday for maintenance. … The Avs will take Tuesday off and have a morning skate ahead of Wednesday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.
Source: Read Full Article