WATCH: Jonathan Lekkerimäki scores long-distance shot for his 9th goal of the year

Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who stormed out of the gate with eight goals in the first 14 games of the SHL season, came into today sporting his longest goalless streak of the young campaign, going six consecutive games without finding the back of the net.

Of course, there was a three-game stint at the U20 Five Nations tournament, in which he scored a goal and collected four points.

Today, the 19-year-old forward emphatically ended this dry spell, notching his ninth goal of the year with a seeing-eye shot.

The goal showcases his innate release, utilizing his body to shield the goaltender’s view before executing a crafty long-distance snapshot.

With this goal, Lekkerimäki is now up nine goals and 13 points across 21 SHL games, propelling him back into the league’s top 10 in goal-scoring – currently tied for ninth.

Furthermore, his 13 points currently sit atop the leaderboard among U24 skaters, holding a one-point advantage over his (likely) upcoming Swedish teammate, Axel Sandin Pellikka.

Skating on the first line, and the top power play unit for Örebro, Lekkerimäki is amidst an impressive bounce-back season, having already surpassed his 2022–23 totals of nine points over 29 games at the Allsvenskan level.

The “excuse” of nagging injury and health concerns in prior seasons have clear merit, as his game has shown night-and-day progression.

As the World Junior Championships approach in less than a month, Lekkerimäki has three more games on his Örebro schedule to refine his game. The young forward is poised to join the host team as a pivotal member of Team Sweden’s top offensive unit.