The Colorado Avalanche is about to get a much-needed break, but reinforcements have arrived just ahead of it.
Artturi Lehkonen and Bowen Byram have been cleared to return to the lineup Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals in the club’s penultimate game before the NHL’s All-Star break. Lehkonen has missed the past 35 games because of a neck injury, while Byram was sidelined for eight with a lower-body issue.
“It’s great. He’s a big part of our group and a really good player,” Avs forward Mikko Rantanen said of his fellow countryman Lehkonen. “He’s going to help us — 5-on-5, good penalty killer, good all-around player.