There’s a new primary goalie for the Boston Bruins and it’s not who you suppose. With contract negotiations nonetheless ongoing between basic supervisor Don Sweeney and goaltender Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins have named their starter for opening evening.
Newly acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalo would be the starter for the staff’s first sport on Oct. 8 towards the Florida Panthers. It’s actually a tall job, as they’re the defending Stanley Cup champions.
It’s Korpisalo’s Time to Shine
Perhaps it’s not one thing that Korpisalo anticipated, however right here he’s, the primary goaltender for the Bruins in the intervening time. Some could also be hesitant on the matter, given the best way he carried out in the course of the 2023-24 season. Goaltending was a poor spot for the Ottawa Senators and he was partially responsible. Korpisalo completed the season with a 3.27 goals-against common (GAA), a .890 save share (SV%), and a subpar minus-16.1 objectives saved above anticipated (GSAx).
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The bar is low, however that isn’t a foul factor. With a change of surroundings and a greater defensive system in place, Korpisalo is within the good scenario to revamp his sport. Taking part in behind this Bruins defensive group has been a sigh of reduction for him. To not point out, the forwards additionally play a robust two-way sport, making it a cohesive defensive unit. In reality, Korpisalo has appeared robust this preseason, instilling optimism that he’s as much as the duty.
Korpisalo Thriving in Preseason
Working with goalie coach Bob Essensa has paid off early. Korpisalo was greater than probably going to again up Swayman this season regardless. Additionally, quite a lot of eyes had been going to be on Brandon Bussi and Michael DiPietro. They’re the youthful goalies within the Bruins pipeline and gamers many thought may take the following steps of their younger careers. Bussi and DiPietro each haven’t appeared practically as sharp, each posting a SV% under .900. As for Korpisalo, he has performed an incredible job this preseason exhibiting what he can do within the crease.
Korpisalo has been sharp this preseason. He seems motivated, however he has additionally been positionally sound and monitoring pucks effectively. In three video games this preseason, he has confronted 47 photographs on purpose and stopped 44 of them. He has a .936 SV% on this span and an exceptional 1.92 GAA. One space he has been tremendous sharp in is the high-danger areas of the ice. Of the 47 photographs he has confronted, 16 have are available in that space. He’s stopped 15 of these photographs, good for a .938 SV% in that space of the ice.
These are actually robust numbers and a robust preseason thus far. His 2.86 GSAx additionally stands out, exhibiting how dialed in he has been. Korpisalo is coming in motivated and with a chip on his shoulder and he has appeared assured. The Panthers are a formidable opponent, however beginning Korpisalo shouldn’t be a foul factor.
Journey the Korpisalo Wave
There is no such thing as a timetable on how lengthy Korpisalo would be the Bruins’ primary goalie. Nevertheless, they are going to be in fine condition with him between the pipes. The extent of play he’s exhibiting in the course of the preseason ought to instill confidence not simply within the Bruins employees, however the followers as effectively. It is going to be a tall job to shoulder the load, however nothing that he hasn’t performed on the NHL stage earlier than. Journey the wave and luxuriate in what he can convey to the membership – as a result of it seems promising thus far.
