The Colorado Avalanche expect forward Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Devon Toews to miss numerous weeks with upper-body injuries.
Landeskog will probably return after Toews, who has been ruled out for at least two weeks, coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday ahead of the Avalanche’s road game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Both players were injured after being named Olympians. Landeskog is on Sweden’s roster and Toews is set to represent Canada at the tournament in Milan, Italy, from Feb. 11-22.
Landeskog’s ribs seemed to bear the brunt of his collision with the goalpost in Colorado’s 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday. Toews missed that game after being tripped into the boards Saturday as the Avalanche topped the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3.
Landeskog, the Avalanche’s longtime captain, missed the last three regular seasons due to a degenerative knee issue. He finally returned to play last April in Colorado’s first-round playoff series, tallying four points in five games, and he has seven goals and 22 points in 41 games this season.
Toews has produced one goal and 13 points in 40 games while averaging 22:20 in ice time, second among Avalanche skaters behind superstar defense partner Cale Makar.
The NHL’s runaway top team, the Avalanche lead the standings at the season’s midpoint with a 31-3-7 record and 69 points. They will play seven straight home games following the Lightning matchup.
–Field Level Media
