Gabe Landeskog Returns in Style, Sparks Sweden’s Olympic Opener with Grit and a Goal
Milan, ITALY - It’s been a long road back for Gabe Landeskog. After an injury that kept him out of NHL action and left his Olympic dreams in serious doubt, the Avalanche captain made a triumphant return-not in Denver, but on the international stage, leading Team Sweden into their Olympic opener against host country Italy.
And just like he’s done so many times in an Avalanche sweater, Landeskog wasted no time making his presence felt.
From the opening shift, Landeskog brought the kind of physical edge that’s defined his game for over a decade. He threw a hit right out of the gate-eerily reminiscent of his first shift back with Colorado during last year’s playoffs.
The only difference? This time, it wasn’t Mikko Rantanen on the receiving end.
“That’s the only way to get into the tournament and games, yeah,” Landeskog said with a grin, clearly relishing the moment.
But Sweden’s start wasn’t exactly smooth. Italy grabbed an early lead on a chaotic sequence that saw Swedish goalie Filip Gustavsson lose his stick during a broken play. For a moment, the Milan crowd buzzed with the possibility of another Olympic upset-shades of Finland-Slovakia flickering in the minds of fans.
Then Landeskog stepped up.
With one second left on a power play, Landeskog unleashed a one-timer that found the back of the net-Sweden’s first goal of the tournament and a much-needed jolt of energy for a team that had looked a little flat out of the gate. The bench erupted.
The crowd, at least the Swedish section, roared. And just like that, the tone of the game shifted.
“Obviously, it’s exciting to score,” Landeskog said afterward. “But I thought it was just exciting to be out there…”
That goal carried a little extra weight, too. Not just because it tied the game, but because it came on the power play-a unit that’s been a sore spot for Landeskog’s Avalanche squad back in the NHL. For Sweden, though, it was the spark they needed.
Italy didn’t back down, though. They came out strong again in the second period, and Montreal Canadiens draft pick Matt Bradley cashed in to tie things up 2-2. It was a gutsy effort from the underdogs, who refused to let Sweden pull away easily.
But Sweden kept coming. Shot after shot, wave after wave, and finally-on their 40th shot of the game-they broke through again. With just over three minutes left in the second period, William Nylander found the back of the net on a slick backhand finish, giving Sweden a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
From there, the Swedes settled in. Italy was forced to make a goaltending change, and Sweden pounced. Mika Zibanejad and Victor Hedman each added goals in the third to seal a 5-2 win and give Sweden the kind of finish they were looking for after a shaky start.
But make no mistake-this night belonged to Landeskog.
He didn’t just score a goal. He set the tone.
He led by example. He reminded everyone why he wears the “C” on his chest, whether it’s in Denver or in a yellow-and-blue Swedish sweater.
This game marked another milestone in what’s already a remarkable comeback story. Landeskog is the first Avalanche player to score in this Olympic tournament-the first Olympics to feature NHL players in 12 years. And he did it after coming back from an injury that, until now, no one had returned from.
Asked what it meant to wear the “C” for Sweden again, Landeskog didn’t hesitate.
“It means a lot, no doubt it’s an honor for me,” he said. “There were definitely times I didn’t know if I was gonna get to play in the Olympics again or wear this jersey, so it’s definitely exciting, and I’m truly just grateful to be here.”
Grateful-and back to doing what he does best. Leading.
Competing. Delivering when it matters most.
For Sweden, for the Avalanche faithful watching from afar, and for hockey fans everywhere, it’s just good to see Gabe Landeskog back on the ice.