Early in the second period, the opportunity came – and Jonathan Lekkerimäki didn't hesitate. After a pass from teammate Brock Boeser, the Swede stormed over the ice and slammed in a hard shot from the face-off circle, which sailed straight over the Montreal goalkeeper and gave Vancouver 3–1.
It was a nice goal. He played well tonight, praises Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet to a gathered press corps after the match.
Lekkerimäki's goal was the result of a "seven-hole shot", adds Tocchet.
"A bit of his gift"
It's a bit of his gift. I hope he builds on it in the future.
Just minutes before the goal, Lekkerimäki had also delivered an assist, when J.T Miller scored his second goal of the match. It was the first time the 20-year-old Swede had scored two points in the same match.
On the other hand, he had only played his sixth NHL game and the first since November 20 last year. Lekkerimäki was called up from Abbotsford Canucks in AHL since Dakota Joshua ended up on the injury list.
Vancouver's Nils Höglander also recorded an assist, but the Swedish efforts weren't enough. Montreal won 5–4 after overtime.
The star buys the criticism
Elias Pettersson was missing again in Vancouver. The attacking star is on his way back after an injury and has had a tough season behind him.
28 points in 34 matches isn't considered good enough. Patrik Allvin, Vancouver's Swedish general manager, recently directed harsh criticism.
Now Pettersson responds – and buys the criticism.
I know I can do better, I'm the first to admit it. In the end, it's about having expectations from the club and it's clear that I haven't fulfilled them.
But I mean, it doesn't matter what people say, I know what I can do and I'm focused on doing it. What's happened before doesn't matter. I'm just trying to look forward, he says to Sportsnet.
Pettersson is expected to make his comeback against Washington on Wednesday.
Markström praised
Defender Adam Larsson equalized (1–1) for Seattle, but New Jersey won 3–2 and broke a four-game losing streak. Jacob Markström made 21 saves and received praise from his coach Sheldon Keefe:
Jacob was phenomenal. He gave us the chance to win, he says to the NHL website.
Markström himself toned down the performance:
As long as we take two points, it doesn't matter to me if I make two, five or forty saves. If we win, I'm happy.
