World Juniors: Canucks prospects Lekkerimaki up, Pettersson down on Day 4

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It’s a World Junior Championship edition of the tracker, where we tally up the efforts of the Vancouver Canucks’ prospects playing in the tournament:

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Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Here’s Johnny!

The ice time was up for Jonathan Lekkerimaki — and so was the production — as the Canucks’ top prospect assisted on the winning goal in Sweden’s tight 3-2 overtime win over Czechia on Thursday to take sole possession of top spot in Group A.

After skating for under 12 minutes in a 1-0 win over Germany on Tuesday, Lekkerimaki had 19 shifts for over 16 minutes of ice time against the Czechs.

He was most noticeable in the OT session. First, the Canucks’ 15th overall pick this past summer took a pass in the high slot and whistled a wrister just wide. Then as the Czechs went for a change, Lekkerimaki wheeled around and whipped a pass to an open Ludvig Jansson, who got behind the defence and finished on a backhand deke for his second goal of the game.

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Lekkerimaki finished the game with an assist, one shot on goal and an even rating.

The 18-year-old has three points (1G, 2A) in three games this tournament. Besides the points, the 5-foot-11, 172-pound right-shot forward is playing with some pep in his step after a lacklustre start to his season in Sweden. Lekkerimaki looks lively and has been largely effective in the offensive zone, playing patiently with the puck and getting his shots on goal.

Sweden next plays Canada in a big New Year’s Eve matchup on Saturday.

Elias Pettersson

We’ve seen a lot of Elias Pettersson so far this tournament. Let’s hope we get to see more.

The Swedish defenceman took a hard hit into the boards late in the game against the Czechs and appeared to hit his head into the glass. He dropped to the ice and did not return.

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After the game, head coach Magnus Havelid said Pettersson needed to be evaluated by a doctor before commenting on his status.

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This tournament has been an adventure so far for the Canucks’ 2022 third-rounder.

From a third-pairing placement to leading the team in ice time last game, Pettersson has seen it all. Thursday was another eventful game for the 18-year-old.

On his first shift, Pettersson overcommitted to the man behind the net for the Czechs’ first quality chance in front. He also had some issues moving the puck against an aggressive Czechia side.

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This game also featured some extracurricular activity after the whistle, for which the 6-foot-3, 196-pound left-shot defender was often front and centre.

In the offensive end, Pettersson had three shots on net in nearly 18 minutes of ice time before he went down.

Pettersson has one assist and a plus-2 rating in three games this tournament.

Elsewhere: Goaltender Aku Koskenvuo (2021, Rd. 5) was the backup for the second straight game for Finland. His goaltending counterpart, Jani Lampinen, was very strong, making 29 saves in a 3-0 shutout win over Latvia. Lampinen may have won the starter’s job going forward with this latest performance.

Koskenvuo, 18, started on Day 1, a 3-2 overtime loss to Switzerland in which he stopped 24 of 27 shots.

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