Landeskog Out 4-6 Weeks with Upper-Body Injury

CENTENNIAL, Colo.--Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog will miss four-to-six weeks with an upper-body injury, head coach Jared Bednar announced following Friday's practice.
"It's going to be a great opportunity for some guys," Bednar said of the team captain's absence. "We need some guys to step up here and elevate their game… Everybody will get more opportunity."

Landeskog was hurt midway through the third period of Thursday night's game at the Dallas Stars after he collided with Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop along the end wall. Landeskog didn't return to the contest after leaving the ice to be evaluated by the Avs' training staff.
"I think [Landeskog] gets caught reaching. He just gets caught in a real bad spot," Bednar said. "Landy is going for the puck, [Bishop] is stepping out to play it, and he kind of shields himself with his back. It must have just hit him wrong. I don't think it was hard, it just kind of catches him in a bad spot."

The Stockholm, Sweden, native has recorded career highs this season with 33 goals, 69 points, nine game-winning goals and 10 power-play goals. It is the first time in his eight-year NHL career that he's reached 30 goals and joins Valeri Kamensky (38, 1995-96) as the only left wings in Avs history to surpass the mark in a season (since 1995-96).
Landeskog, 26, leads the NHL this year with 19 goals in the third period, which is a new Avalanche single-season record as well. His nine game-winners are also the most in the league and tied for fourth most in Colorado history.
The Avalanche captain was named to his first NHL All-Star Game this past January and joined teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen at the event, marking the first time the club has had three representatives at the mid-winter showcase since 2004 (Rob Blake, Joe Sakic, Alex Tanguay). The three forwards have combined for 238 points (96 goals, 142 assists) and have all factored on the same goal 23 times this season.
Landeskog has appeared in 574 NHL games since being drafted second overall by Colorado in 2011. He has recorded 176 goals and 234 assists for 410 points in his career and is only the second player from his draft class to reach the 400-point mark.