Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog waited nearly three years to play again in a hockey game. He’ll wait only 24 hours to play his next one.

Landeskog, 32, began a conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles – the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate – when he played in the Eagles’ 2-0 victory over the visiting Henderson Silver Knights, but the game’s result definitely wasn’t the point. Landeskog played for roughly 15 minutes in Friday’s win, and more importantly, seemed none the worse for wear following the game.

It was awesome,” Landeskog said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and envisioning this – and envisioning being in a competitive hockey game again. Obviously, there were times where I didn’t know if that was ever going to happen, so it felt great being in the battle again.”

As the rest of their Avalanche teammates hit the road for their final two games of the regular season – games that will have no bearing on the Avalanche’s playoff seeding – Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Josh Manson and Ross Colton all made the trip up to Loveland instead to watch their captain play.

They may not have to wait much longer to see Landeskog don an Avalanche sweater again. Landeskog is expected to play again on Saturday, and if all goes well in the back-to-back games, it doesn’t make much sense for the Avalanche to send Landeskog on the road with the Eagles, who play Henderson again tonight in their home, regular-season finale.

If Landeskog feels well, and if the Avalanche like what they’ve seen with the Eagles, it’s a near-certainty that Landeskog would forgo a third and final conditioning game, and instead be added to the active roster after the Avs wrap up their regular season on Sunday night against the Ducks in Anaheim. At that point, Landeskog’s $7 million salary no longer, allowing the Avalanche to activate their longtime captain without penalty.

The Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 19, and the Avalanche will begin their run on the road in Dallas against former teammate Mikko Rantanen and the Stars.

It’s looking like the Avalanche will not only visit the Lone Star State well-rested, but with their captain ready to lead them, as well.