Landeskog scores for the first time in 3 years in Game 4.

If you stayed up late on Saturday night to watch the Dallas Stars face off against the Colorado Avalanche in their opening round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, you got to witness something very special.

It was already somewhat unbelievable that Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog returned to the lineup after a shocking 3 year hiatus due to a long term and lingering injury, but even more impressive may be the way in which he has returned. On Saturday night, Landeskog would put the cherry on top of that return when he would find the back of the net to give his team a commanding lead over the Dallas Stars a little over midway through the second period of Game 4.

Landeskog would fire off a shot from the slot that would beat Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, who up until that point was having an incredible performance of his own to keep his team in the game, and the jubilation on the face of Landeskog and his teammates is something you have to witness for yourself.

Landeskog could be seen smiling from ear to ear, and who could blame him after everything he endured to get back to this moment, and that smile was infectious spreading to his teammates across the Avalanche bench.

Avalanche star forward Nathan MacKinnon isn't exactly known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, but even he couldn't contain his excitement after seeing his friend score a goal for the first time since June 20th of 2022. MacKinnon was grinning from ear to ear and it looked like he absolutely crushed Landeskog with a hug as he got to the bench, with Landeskog not appearing to mind in the slightest.

What a moment, one that will no doubt be remembered as one of the very best moments of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.