Avalanche getting Byram, Nichushkin back from injuries Tuesday vs. Pens

The injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche will have two impact players back in the lineup when they resume play Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bo Byram and Valeri Nichushkin will return for Colorado's first game after the All-Star break, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Sunday, according to the Denver Gazette's Kyle Fredrickson.

There was even more good news for Colorado, as Bednar added that injured captain Gabriel Landeskog will be back "fairly soon," according to the Denver Post's Bennett Durando. Landeskog hasn't played at all in 2022-23 due to a knee injury. He underwent surgery in mid-October and was initially expected to return in 12 weeks.

Byram has been out for over three months, last suiting up for the club's 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 4. The 21-year-old defenseman missed the next 38 games with what the team called a lower-body injury. Byram practiced in a regular jersey Sunday.

The 2019 fourth overall pick collected two goals and three assists over 10 games before getting injured. He was instrumental in Colorado's Stanley Cup championship run last spring, notching nine points while averaging over 19 minutes of ice time across 20 playoff contests.

Nichushkin has been in and out of the lineup in 2022-23 after re-injuring the ankle he had surgically repaired in November. Thanks to the lengthy break, the 27-year-old winger only missed the last two games following his latest setback.

Despite sitting out for more than half of the Avalanche's schedule so far this season, he's been potent when healthy. Nichushkin has produced eight goals and 10 assists in the 20 contests he's played this campaign.

Colorado has won seven of its last 10 games and sits fourth in the Central Division at 27-18-3.

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