WASHINGTON — Gabe Landeskog’s comeback story was remarkable enough. This is starting to feel like overkill.

Landeskog missed three full regular seasons with right knee issues. He became the first professional hockey player to return to the NHL after knee cartilage transplant surgery, a Hail Mary procedure that worked and saved his career.

Somehow, the next chapter has included two of the most painful injuries imaginable amongst his triumph. Landeskog returned Sunday afternoon in a 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena after … well, let’s just let him explain it.

“I took a 96-mile-per-hour slapshot to the nuts, and it hurt,” Landeskog said. “So yeah, had a quick surgery to fix some things and we’re good to go.

“I do think that is one of the things the last three years has given me is perspective, and understanding that it’s just about being in the fight and being apart of such a great team. When I broke my ribs, I knew it wasn’t going to be three years. And then when I took a shot to the nuts, it was kind of the same thing. I knew it wasn’t going to take a lot of time. It sucks in the moment to miss some time, but at the end of the day I am still very blessed.”

Landeskog finished the game March 6 in Dallas after taking a Cale Makar shot to the groin area, but he was pronounced “week-to-week” the next day. He also missed a little more than a month with the broken ribs after crashing into the net and end boards during a game Jan. 4 in south Florida.

When he hasn’t been in agonizing pain, Landeskog has put together an incredible season considering the circumstances. He added another huge moment Sunday when he scored Colorado’s first goal of the game.

Martin Necas intercepted a pass from Washington goaltender Logan Thompson behind the Capitals net and found Landeskog out front of the captain’s 10th of the season. He also has 30 points in 48 games.

“We needed a big goal in that situation,” Bednar said. “Marty comes up with the puck and finds Gabe. He just has a knack for making a play when you need it, whether it’s on the offensive side or the defensive side.

“Our record with and without him is significantly different. To get him back in the room … first game after two weeks off and limited activity. We know his game will only get better.”

After this comeback win, the Avs are now 37-4-7 when Landeskog plays and 9-9-3 when he does not. Colorado has also been without at least one of Necas, Devon Toews or Artturi Lehkonen in every game that Landeskog has missed.

Still, this was another obvious moment where Landeskog’s leadership likely helped the league’s best team. The Avs slogged through the opening period. One player said the ice was terrible after the game. Brock Nelson said the team had to adjust and “muck it up more.”

They did that, and took control. Then Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time goal scorer uncorked a vintage rocket on the power play and the Avs lost the lead with less than six minutes to play.

Not only did they regroup, they dominated the overtime. Colorado had all five shot attempts, including Nelson’s tap-in to win the game.

“It’s great. Just a charismatic guy,” Nelson said. “The presence he brings, the energy he brings — obviously a big goal, a big block. He just plays the game hard and plays the right way. Just his presence in the locker room, his leadership is as good as it gets. So for us to have him back is huge.”

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