DENVER -- Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg has been cleared to play for the playoffs.

Forsberg, a six-time All-Star, was expected to miss four months after having foot surgery on Jan. 10. But he has been skating with the team for more than two weeks and was cleared to play on Tuesday.

"The leg has felt great and there was a lot of progress made last week," said Forsberg, who is expected to be in the lineup against Los Angeles on Thursday. "I am really healthy now and I feel great. It will be great to get back."

Forsberg has had four foot surgeries and his spleen removed in the past 11 months.

"There were lots of smiling faces. That is for sure," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said of the team learning the news. "It is great news at this time of the year to be adding a world class player to your roster."

Forsberg said last week that he wasn't sure if he would be ready for the playoffs after experiencing pain in his foot. He said he began feeling better late in the week and possibly could have played Sunday against Dallas in the season finale.

"I probably could have played, but it was totally unnecessary," Forsberg said. "It was not that an important of a game and we thought a couple of more days rest would be better."

Hartley said Forsberg will move to left wing and skate on the second line with Chris Drury and Steven Reinprecht.

Forsberg said it will be up to the coaching staff how much he plays, but he expects to be on the ice at least a few shifts Thursday.

No matter how much he plays, his return gives the Avs a boost.

"It's going to be huge, obviously. He's one of the better players in the game," Colorado captain Joe Sakic said. "I think right now he's not going to be at his top form -- hopefully he will -- but I think it'll take a couple of games. Especially with the adrenaline, it's going to be a big boost for our hockey club."

Forsberg had his spleen removed in an emergency operation on May 10, just hours after the Avalanche eliminated the Kings in the second round of the playoffs last season. In July, he had surgery on both ankles, then additional surgery on his left ankle in Sweden.

Forsberg was expected to be back for the start of the season, but took an unexpected leave of absence to let his body heal. He returned to Denver in January with the intention of playing for the Avalanche and for Sweden in the Olympics, but a routine physical revealed the tendon damage.

"It was so long ago since I've played," Forsberg said. "It is going to be hard. It will feel weird when I get out there, but I am going to go out there and do my best."

Forsberg's return comes at a good time for the Avalanche.

Colorado set a franchise record for fewest goals in a season with 212 and were shut out 10 times, another record. The Avalanche did score 17 goals in a four-game span at the end of March and beginning of April, but averaged just 2.2 goals their last five games of the season.

Forsberg had 27 goals and 89 points last season as Colorado led the NHL with 270 goals. He has 169 goals and 411 assists in 466 NHL games, and 42 goals and 66 assists in 96 playoff games.

"He adds that other element that no other team really has," Sakic said. "He can do it all, the physical game, handles that puck better than anybody, can make plays. It's definitely going to create a lot more offensive chances for us."

The Avalanche claimed the Northwest Division title for the eighth consecutive season this year and finished second in the Western Conference behind the Detroit Red Wings.