Noah Juulsen is hitting the ice again for the Vancouver Canucks this Tuesday, and the timing couldn’t be more crucial. It’s been since April 23 that Juulsen last played, and he’s stepping in to fill the skates of Carson Soucy, who got a one-game suspension. Why the suspension? Soucy delivered a cross-check right to the face of Connor McDavid, the star of the Edmonton Oilers, as McDavid was falling towards him at the end of Game 3.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy will be SUSPENDED for game 4 of the Canucks vs Oilers series as he cross checked Connor McDavid in the face who received backshots from Nikita Zadorov simultaneously pic.twitter.com/w52yBMUh3a
— Chase (@ChaseBork) May 13, 2024
The Canucks, who currently lead the series 2-1 after their 4-3 win on Sunday, find themselves at a critical juncture with Juulsen in the game. They’re just one win away from pushing the Oilers to the brink of elimination, and Juulsen’s role could be key.
Canucks’ coach Rick Tocchet openly expressed his relief and confidence in having Juulsen ready: “Lucky for us to have him as our seventh defenseman. Juulsen’s been a solid contributor all year and has faced some tough spots. We’re really confident in ‘Juuls’.”
“You could go down the list. I just think a lot of guys defended well.”
🗣 Head Coach Rick Tocchet shares his thoughts on tonight's win in Edmonton.@theprovince | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/WmjxgV9oXX
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) May 13, 2024
Juulsen, 27, only made one appearance in this year’s playoffs, in Game 2 of the first round against the Nashville Predators, where he played for 11:24 minutes and ended with a minus-1. During the regular season, though, he notched one goal and seven points, averaging 14:53 of ice time.
“We’ve been doing that all year,” Juulsen said about rotating in and out of the lineup. “Guys have been shuffled in and out, and those who come in, pick up the pace as well. Obviously, the longer you’re out, the tougher it gets. But as a group, we try to stay engaged and on top of things as best we can.”
Meanwhile, Soucy, who will now be watching from the sidelines, had four assists in nine games this postseason and during the regular season added two goals and six points in 40 games.
Noah Juulsen's FIRST in #Canucks colours❗️ pic.twitter.com/lClhwduWVl
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 18, 2024
With the stakes getting higher and expectations rising, can Juulsen push the Canucks to another crucial win? That’s the big question and everyone is keen to see what he can bring back to the ice.
So, what do you think Juulsen’s return will mean for the Canucks’ game? Do you think he’s going to shake things up or is it just another day at the office?
Drop a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts!