Mark Kiszla: As Avs look forward to Gabe Landeskog's return, Mikko Rantanen missing in action for Dallas

DALLAS For those of you keeping score at home, Mikko Rantanen has exactly as many points as Gabe Landeskog in the Stanley Cup Playoffs showdown between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.

At 7 minutes past the stroke of midnight on an edgy evening deep in the heart of Texas, the Stars clawed back to even this best-of-seven series at a victory apiece by the count of 4-3, the winner a goal by Colin Blackwell nearly 18 tense minutes into overtime.

Now, more than ever, Colorado could use an emotional boost from Landeskog, who watched as his teammates coughed up a lead in the third period.

But after a 1,030-day wait, whats another 48 hours? Landeskog laced up his skates and took the ice on the night of an Avalanche game for the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup on June 26, 2022.

After three long years of rehabilitating a freak knee injury that required multiple surgeries, including a cartilage transplant, Captain Gabe came barreling out of the tunnel and followed goalie Mackenzie Blackwood on the ice for warm-ups of Game 2.

And it got a little misty in American Airlines Center.

Mental toughness at its finest, Avalanche teammate Erik Johnson said.

He had multiple times when Im sure he wanted to pull the plug and didnt think (the injury) was getting better, but stuck with it.

On the ice, Landeskog looked good, with skates churning and that big C shining on his sweater.

But when the lights in the arena went down for the laser-show hoopla prior to the opening face-off, coach Jared Bednar scratched Landeskog from the lineup and decided to play Miles Wood.

Landeskog was a healthy scratch.

Through two games, Rantanen has been a no-show.

Maybe Rantanen misses Nathan MacKinnon more than any of us realized.

While theres no denying Mooses elite skill level, it would also be foolish to deny how playing alongside MacKinnon can make a B+ player look like an all-star and give an all-star delusions of Hall of Fame grandeur.

Look, (Rantanen) played in one place for a decade, Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said.

And he played with one guy for almost a decade, and no one else in the league has that guy (MacKinnon).

In Dallas, where the peeps are still mightily agitated about the senseless departure of Mavericks star Luka Doncic to La La Land, they need a new hero.

And so far, despite his new eight-year, $96 million contract, Rantanen has failed to fit the bill or fill the hole in the Big Ds heart.

Hes got a lot on his plate.

I dont think anyone should be surprised that this hasnt come easily and all at once, DeBoer said.

Until (Rantanen) gets to the point where hes making a nightly impact, the other guys have to do some heavy lifting.

In a matter of weeks, Rantanen watched a decade-long relationship with the Avs fall apart, then lived like a nomad out of a suitcase in Carolina before being asked to justify that fat contract by carrying Dallas to the Cup.

On the morning of Game 2, I asked how much the upheaval messed with his peace of mind.

Its not easy in anybodys life if theres uncertainty, whether youre a hockey player or football player or lawnmower or a writer, Rantanen replied.

If theres uncertainty, its always hard mentally.

Among all the players involved in the two trades that sent Rantanen from Colorado to Carolina to Texas between late January and early March, every player has scored a point already in the opening round of the playoffs, with one exception.

Rantanen has yet to get on the board.

When this best-of-seven series moves Wednesday to Denver for Game 3, engineers at Ball Arena better make certain the roof is bolted down tight for the ovation Landeskog will hear if he plays.

Hes probably had so many days where hes thinking to himself, Im not going to be able to do this, Johnson said.

Now hes on the cusp of potentially making a return for us.

Whatever contribution the Avs can get from Landeskog will be a gift from the hockey gods.

Down here in the 'Big D,' sports fans are so irate at Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison for trading Doncic that anywhere a crowd gathers, this chant can spontaneously erupt: Fire Nico! If the Stars $96 million man fails to prove his worth in this playoff series, that chant could quickly change to Fire Mikko!.

This article has been shared from the original article on gazette, here is the link to the original article.