Fresh off a 3-2 loss against the San Jose Sharks on Friday afternoon, the Vancouver Canucks are back in action on Saturday as they pay a visit to the Los Angeles Kings. Ahead of their matchup with the Kings, the Canucks announced the following roster move:

Goaltender Jiri Patera has been assigned to AHL Abbotsford. In the same roster move, forward Jonathan Lekkerimäki has been recalled, General Manager Patrik Allvin announced.

Lekkerimäki began the season in the NHL after a solid preseason, which saw him develop chemistry with 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes. In the final three preseason games, Lekkerimäki scored three goals and picked up an assist. The Swedish winger appeared in the first three games of the regular season, scoring in the Canucks’ debut against the Calgary Flames.

After three games, Lekkerimäki was made a healthy scratch for a pair of games against the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks. He then returned against the Washington Capitals after Brock Boeser left the road trip due to personal reasons. Unfortunately, Lekkerimäki would last just 4:07 and would exit the first period with an injury. This undisclosed injury kept him out of the following three-and-a-half weeks (12 games) before he was sent to Abbotsford.

The former first-round pick has appeared in five games for the Abbotsford Canucks. Lekkerimäki went pointless with a minus-2 rating in his debut, logging six shots on goal. But has since found his game, registering a point in the following four games (three goals and two assists).

In goal, the Canucks have started Nikita Tolopilo for their last two games, including yesterday, meaning tonight was shaping up to be a Jiri Patera start in LA. Given that Patera was sent back down to Abbotsford, that should mean that Kevin Lankinen is ready to return from the personal matter that kept him away from the team for the last two games. Rick Dhaliwal reported on Friday that Lankinen could join the Canucks before the end of their road trip.

We will wait to hear from Head Coach Adam Foote about his starting goalie closer to game time. Puck drop is set for 7 PM PST on Hockey Night in Canada.