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Avs’ captain Landeskog to miss second straight game

Gabriel Landeskog

Colorado Avalanche rookie left wing Gabriel Landeskog moves the puck during the third period of the Burgundy and White intrasquad game at Air Force Academy, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

AP

Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog won’t be in the lineup Wednesday when the Avs take on the Canucks in Vancouver, according to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post.

Landeskog, 19, was injured during Saturday’s 4-0 loss to San Jose on this hit from defenseman Brad Stuart:

Landeskog left the ice immediately after the collision, but returned to the game three minutes into the second period, playing 16:23 all told.

The decision to allow the Avs captain to return came under scrutiny on Monday, when it was learned Landeskog would be held out of Colorado’s game in Edmonton with head and neck injuries, believed to have occurred on the Stuart hit.

The Avalanche went on to lose in Edmonton 4-1 -- their second straight loss -- and have now lost three of five to start the year.

There’s no denying the team is hurting up front right now. Colorado already lost winger Steve Downie for the year with a torn ACL and is still without the services of center Ryan O’Reilly, currently embroiled in a contract dispute.

Minus the services of Landeskog, Downie and O’Reilly, head coach Joe Sacco has been forced to juggle his forward lines.

Dater reports the Avs might go with John Mitchell on a line with Matt Duchene and PA Parenteau vs. Vancouver, with Michael Sgarbossa -- an undrafted free agent rookie -- making his NHL debut centering Chuck Kobasew and Milan Hejduk.