The Colorado Avalanche are firing on all cylinders during these NHL playoffs.
After romping their way to 121 points and the Presidents’ Trophy during the regular season, the Avalanche have gotten off to a rousing 8-1 start in the postseason. They have looked like an unstoppable machine with waves of depth as they seek their second Stanley Cup championship this decade.
And because fortune often smiles upon the dominant, the Avalanche are getting great injury news ahead of their Game 1 matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday. Well, aside from the whole sudden Cale Makar thing.
After missing the last two games of a second-round series with the Minnesota Wild with an undisclosed upper-body injury, starting left winger Artturi Lehkonen will return to the Colorado lineup in Game 1. As a 48-point, two-way player during the regular season, his return should serve as a massive boost to what is already the NHL’s most formidable team.
Let Colorado coach Jared Bednar explain Lehkonen’s value himself:
According to Coach Jared Bednar, getting Artturi Lehkonen back in the lineup helps this group a LOT:
“He’s a big-time playoff performer.”
Full morning skate presser ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/imYAQY4Dhw
— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) May 20, 2026
Expect Lehkonen to slot back into his usual top-six spot on the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Nicolas Roy. His presence should only help the Avalanche, who are clearly on a mission.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Artturi Lehkonen injury update: Is Avalanche star playing Game 1?