Perhaps the only detail more emphatic than the goals in the Avalanche‘s 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night was the impact provided by Colorado’s captain, Gabriel Landeskog.

Landeskog, who returned in Game 3 of this Western Conference first-round series after missing nearly three seasons while recovering from a knee injury, scored his first goal since June 20, 2022, in a multipoint performance that saw the Avalanche tie the series at 2-2 in Game 4 at Denver’s Ball Arena.

Game 5 is slated for Monday in Dallas.

“It means a lot,” Landeskog told reporters after the win. “Obviously, I’ve envisioned scoring again for a long time. There obviously were days when I didn’t know if I was ever going to score again. It obviously feels good.

“It’s a tight playoff series in a big game here at home. To get to do it here at home in front of our fans obviously means a lot. Super exciting. Hopefully, more to come.”

A short-handed goal from Logan O’Connor midway through the first period followed by a late power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon staked the Avalanche to a 2-0 lead entering the second period.

That set the stage for Landeskog, who was in the slot when Brock Nelson fed a pass that the 32-year-old winger launched for a one-timer that beat Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for a 3-0 lead.

Landeskog, who was playing on the second line, was instantly mobbed teammates Samuel Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Nelson, who joined the Avalanche at the NHL trade deadline.

As Landeskog returned to the bench, he was congratulated by the entire team, including a hug from a smiling MacKinnon, who along with Landeskog has been with the franchise for more than a decade.

“I was just proud of him again,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of Landeskog after the game. “I was proud of him regardless of if he scores or not because I know what he’s gone through, and I know how difficult that was. I think that takes it to another level. You know he wants to come back and contribute like he did in the past, and he’s off to a great start.”

Landeskog’s goal was the latest milestone in what been a lengthy recovery from a chronically injured right knee that caused him to miss 1,032 days of NHL action.

In that time, the Avalanche have remained in a championship window but have dramatically altered their roster. The Avs have nine players from their 2021-22 championship team who have remained with the franchise and have since reshuffled a roster that led to them reacquiring defenseman Erik Johnson, one of Landeskog’s closest friends, in their bid for the fourth title in franchise history.

Even with all the changes, there were still questions about when they could see Landeskog return to the lineup. And if Landeskog did return, how well would be play?

His first professional game in three years came with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate on April 11, when he logged 15 minutes, and he would then score a goal and get an assist in his second and final game.

And much like his AHL stint, all it took was two games for Landeskog to score and have another two-point performance.

While Landeskog’s goal became the most celebrated moment of the evening, what he did to help create the Avalanche’s fourth goal was an example of why he’s so crucial to their title aspirations.

Landeskog played a pass to Nelson who then found a Girard for a shot from the point that gave the Avs a 4-0 lead in the fourth. In the time Landeskog passed the puck, he anchored himself at the net front to gain position on 6-foot-7 Stars defensemen Lian Bichsel to screen goaltender Casey DeSmith, who replaced Oettinger for the third period.

Jockeying with Bichsel, who is six inches taller and 16 pounds heavier, allowed Landeskog to test both his strength and that right knee to gain leverage.

The result? Girard’s shot found space in traffic with Landeskog making it hard for DeSmith to see the puck.

“He’s a big boy,” Landeskog said with a smile. “He’s a big strong guy, a physical player and hard to play against. I was trying to get in front of their goal, and he was trying to get me out of there. It was a good battle.”