By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
At nearly the halfway point of the regular season, the Boston Bruins find themselves with a 20-18-2 record. Jeremy Swayman has had a solid first half in between the pipes for Boston, with a .903 save percentage and 2.87 goals against average.
But right before the Christmas break, Swayman saw a dip in his numbers. He gave up 13 goals in his final three starts before the break. It was clear Boston’s starting goaltender needed a breather. But the problem for Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm was that he had to call on his number one netminder for six straight appearances before the league-mandated stoppage.
Joonas Korpisalo was given the nod against the Ottawa Senators on December 21st, but unfortunately for the Bruins, he could not finish the game. Korpisalo was yanked after allowing five goals on 17 shots.
Swayman, who had just played an overtime game the night before, came in. The Bruins lost the contest 6-2.
It is never a good sign when the backup goaltender gets pulled early, and the starter must come in and exude extra energy. It is one thing for Swayman to have an off night and get relieved for some extra rest. But for Korpisalo and the Bruins to play so poorly that Swayman, who already looked fatigued in a recent start the night before, had to appear in back-to-back games is unacceptable.
In a condensed schedule this year, the Bruins will have to rely on Swayman big time down the stretch in order for Boston to compete for a playoff berth. Korpisalo has an important job for the Bruins.
Not only is he responsible for giving the Bruins a chance to win each time he gets the start between the pipes, but he must remain competitive so that Sturm can consistently call his number with confidence. It is important for Boston that Korpisalo picks up his play so that the Bruins’ number one netminder is sharp physically and mentally for each outing.
After last season, Korpisalo made it clear he was not happy with the amount of playing time he was given. But it is also up to him to earn the net consistently through solid play.
The Eastern Conference standings are very tight. Each game is important, especially for Boston, as they will most likely have to scratch and claw to get back to postseason hockey. The Bruins are going to need a healthy, focused Swayman in net for them to get into the playoffs. And that simply will not happen if Sturm loses so much confidence in Korpisalo that Swayman gets overworked.
There is time for Korpisalo to respond, as he was better in his most recent start against the Buffalo Sabres. But he must string together a good stretch of play in order for the Bruins to get back into the playoff picture.
The Bruins will take on the Oilers in Edmonton tonight before heading to Vancouver and Seattle to wrap up their road trip. If you want to see the Bruins in person at TD Garden or on the road, consider using this official StubHub Ticket-affiliated link here for the most competitive concert and sporting event tickets in the North American region.
Korpisalo is an average NHL goaltender at best. This year he’s not even that. His last good statistical year was three seasons ago.