Avs lose Landeskog for two games due to suspension

The Avs started their season without superstar center Nathan MacKinnon and head coach Jared Bednar. Now, they’re going to be without their captain.

The NHL Department of Safety announced on Thursday afternoon that Gabriel Landeskog has been suspended for two games for a hit late in the season opener on Kirby Dach. On the ice, the refs gave Landeskog two minutes for boarding and then an extra two minutes for roughing it up with Tyler Johnson afterward. He missed the rest of the game, but now, the Avs will be without him for the next two.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Landeskog has gotten in trouble with the league, and that played a role in the decision. This is now the fourth suspension of his career, and the first since 2017. Although he’s not considered a repeat offender, they can still take into account his past offenses when it comes to this suspension, and they did announce that in the video explaining the reasoning for the suspension.

Now the Avs will be forced to play without their captain against St. Louis on Saturday, and Washington on Tuesday. They’re still hoping to get MacKinnon and Bednar back for Saturday’s game, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Here’s the video from the league regarding the suspension.