The Avalanche could be without two-thirds of its top line in Saturday’s second game of the season after the NHL Department of Player Safety suspended left wing and team captain Gabe Landeskog two games for boarding late in Wednesday’s opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Landeskog checked vulnerable Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach against the dasher boards with 3:34 remaining in the third period, causing a significant scrum and sending Landeskog to the dressing room with boarding and roughing minors. The NHLDoPS called for a phone meeting with Landeskog on Thursday morning and announced the suspension in the afternoon.
The Avs, who played without top-line center Nathan MacKinnon (COVID protocol), beat the Blackhawks 4-2.