PITTSBURGH — The band is almost back together.
Logan O’Connor and Ross Colton will return to the lineup Tuesday night for the Colorado Avalanche against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Gabe Landeskog returned Sunday against the Washington Capitals, so the last remaining injured forward is Artturi Lehkonen, who skated Tuesday morning and is also close to returning.
O’Connor will make his season debut. He missed the first 69 games of the season, originally because of offseason hip surgery, but his absence was extended by a second, undisclosed issue that befuddled the organization and took months to diagnose. The Avs forward said it is completely healed now and should not be an issue moving forward.
Colton was injured during a March 10 game against Edmonton and has missed the past six contests. He has eight goals and 23 points in 60 games for Colorado this season.
The reinforcements will finally allow coach Jared Bednar to move Nazem Kadri to his natural center position. Kadri, acquired just before the March 6 trade deadline, has played the first eight games of his Avs reunion on the wing on a line with either Nathan MacKinnon or Brock Nelson.
