Avalanche’s Landeskog Looks Revitalized Early in Playoff Run

Being beset by injuries didn’t help, especially when they were of a particularly brutal variety. We saw flashes of the player he had once been, but his 14 goals and 35 points were the lowest since he’d been a struggling 24-year-old.

It was one of those seasons that just felt like nothing could go right. Yes, the Avalanche were thriving atop the standings, but its captain just couldn’t seem to gather any momentum.

Leading Scorer in the Playoffs (Tied)

The Avalanche played the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, a matchup in which they were heavily favored. That proved to be the correct assessment, the Avalanche sweeping the opposition away in four games.

As the offense struggled to find itself until Game 4, Landeskog was making his presence felt. He scored in both Games 2 and 3, tight contests that could have easily gone the other way. He added two assists in the decisive Game 4, tying him with Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen for the team lead.

The Avalanche loaded up at the trade deadline, but it was the veteran captain who had the bigger impact. Sure, we’re just four games in and there is presumably a lot of hockey left to be played. But the early returns are a sign of positivity that Landeskog and the Avalanche have been looking for.

Landeskog is Vital to Avalanche’s Depth

The Avalanche are dangerous for numerous reasons, their depth chief among them. With Landeskog out of the lineup, the Avalanche had a notable hole in their lineup. They continued to win but it felt like an uphill battle more often than not.

In the playoffs, guys like MacKinnon and Cale Makar are going to be given all the attention in the world. In order to succeed, the team will need more out of its middle-six, where Landeskog firmly sits.

When the Avalanche last won the Stanley Cup, Landeskog was excellent. He scored 11 times and chipped in 22 points in 20 games that season. The Avalanche won’t need quite that level of production from him, but will need their captain nonetheless.

Can He Be a Difference-Maker Against Dallas/Minnesota?

The Avalanche are preparing for what will undoubtedly be the toughest test in their run through the Western Conference bracket. Waiting for them is either the Minnesota Wild or Dallas Stars, two teams that would have won two of the other divisions in the league.

The superstars will be important, but it will be an epic battle of depth. If the Avalanche are going to prevail, they will need guys like Landeskog, Nazem Kadri, and Nicolas Roy to be difference-makers. If they can be, it won’t be long before Landeskog is hoisting some hardware again.