Rick Tocchet and the Canucks players are certainly frustrated with how Game 4 developed on Tuesday night and now the Canucks will be heading back to Vancouver with the series tied at 2-2, rather than the 3-1 lead they were hoping for.
More changes could be coming for Game 5 on Thursday night in Vancouver. Take this news with a grain of salt for now because it hasn't been reported by any insiders or confirmed by the Canucks, but it appears that there is a chance 2022 first round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki will make his NHL debut in Game 5.
Lekkerimaki, 19, has had a very busy season. He's played in the Swedish Hockey League, the World Juniors, came over to North America to play for the Abbotsford Canucks, then returned to Europe for Sweden's World Championship camp. He ultimately never made Sweden's roster and the Canucks brought him back to North America and assigned him to AHL Abbotsford. Unfortunately for Lekkerimaki, the Abbotsford Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs the same day he was assigned to the AHL. Afterward their elimination, the Vancouver Canucks called him up to the NHL, along with a handful of other players and prospects from Abbotsford.
It'll be interesting to see if this does indeed come true and if so, it could give the Canucks a big boost offensively for Game 5 at Rogers Arena. Puck drop for Game 5 tomorrow night is set for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET.
