Juuso Välimäki Returns to Lineup Against Avalanche

Juuso Välimäki is set to make his return to the lineup tonight, increasing the Coyotes defensive depth.

Juuso Välimäki is set to make his return to the lineup tonight as the Arizona Coyotes face the Colorado Avalanche.

Välimäki took a puck to the face earlier this month in a game against the Dallas Stars which required immediate surgery to the mouth area.

It was a scary scene when it happened but it’s good to see Välimäki made a speedy recovery and is already going to play in live game action less than a month since the injury occurred.

Prior to getting hurt, Välimäki served a valuable role for the Coyotes playing 18:13 minutes per game while he was the lone defenceman on the team’s second wave of the power play.

He practiced on the second unit of the power play today, so Välimäki should slide right back into that assignment.

“Välimäki, we missed his puck play,” coach André Tourigny said. “I think he gives us depth on the back end. We really like his play on the second unit of the power play…”

The 25-year-old is one of the Coyotes fastest moving defensemen so his return will add a little more speed at the blue line.

While Välimäki is making his way back into the lineup, Tourigny announced that Travis Dermott is still day-to-day as he continues to deal with an upper-body injury.

With Välimäki back in the fold, the Coyotes will play with seven defensemen and one less forward against the Avalanche.