While Vancouver Canucks fans were still buzzing from the team’s impressive 8-1 season-opening victory, the organization’s top European prospect was creating waves of his own overseas.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki capped off his best performance of the year on Thursday morning, propelling his SHL club, Örebro, to a 3-2 overtime victory.
Suiting up against former Canuck legends, Olli Juolevi and Jonathan Dahlén, the 19-year-old Lekkerimäki was elevated to his SHL club’s top line for the first time this season.
While his team was unable to capitalize, Lekkerimäki set the tone early and was one of the club’s clear standouts throughout the game.
Then came the third period.
Trailing by a goal, Lekkerimäki found himself all alone at the top of the circle and was gifted with far too much time to set up his signature release. He made no mistake and fired home his fifth goal of the season, and his second at even strength. And folks, we are only nine games into the SHL season for the kid.
Juolevi happened to be on the ice at the time and would finish the game with a minus-two rating.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki JUST KEEPS SCORING!
He rips this one home to tie the game up in the third period.
Another five-on-five goal for the kid. This is his fifth goal of the SHL season.#CanucksProspect pic.twitter.com/Z1IoZWBawC
— 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 Faber 🔥🎙 (@ChrisFaber39) October 12, 2023
Lekkerimäki didn’t stop there.
Later in the frame, with his team trailing by a goal and his net empty, Lekkerimäki jumped on a loose puck after a faceoff, found a teammate and contributed his first assist of the year.
Örebro would go on to seal the 3-2 victory in overtime.
Lekkerimäki grabs his first assist to tie the game late in the third.
He's had a strong game on Örebro's top line. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/S3bkImxiVO
— Dave Hall (@hall1289) October 12, 2023
Despite an overall disappointing team effort, it was the young sharpshooter’s best performance of the young season — with a bullet.
While skating a season-high 18:16 minutes of ice time, not only did he contribute his first multi-point effort of the year, and third of his SHL career, but he fired four shots on net (season-high), finished with a plus-two rating on the day, blocked a shot and was a noticeable threat in the offensive zone all game.
He currently shares the lead in team goals (5) and finds himself just one back of the league’s lead.
Coming off a disappointing and injury-plagued season, Lekkerimäki continues to show tremendous growth in both his offensive and overall game this year.
The revenge tour carries on.