By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
After being acquired by the Boston Bruins in a trade with the Ottawa Senators before last season, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo had some struggles in his first season in Beantown. Season two would be a pivotal season for Korpisalo.
Korpisalo had a slow start to this season, but has recently found his game. Korpisalo has had an excellent January so far as Jeremy Swayman’s backup to help the Bruins be in a playoff position with 58 points. Now, Korpisalo’s former team wishes they could have him now based on how awful the goaltending has been in Canada’s capital.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark, whom the Senators focused on in the trade with Korpisalo in the 2024 offseason, has struggled this season before taking a personal leave of absence before 2025 ended. While Ullmark has 14 wins in 28 starts this season, he has a 2.95 GAA and a .881 save percentage.
Ullmark’s backup, Leevi Merilainen, has struggled badly. Merilainen had a solid 2024-25 season in both the AHL and NHL, and was destined to be one of the top backups in the NHL. However, Merilainen has a 3.51 GAA and a .860 save percentage in 20 games played this season in Ottawa.
Three other goaltenders have made at least one appearance for the Senators this season. Mads Sogaard, Hunter Shepard, and James Reimer have a GAA over 3.30. Of the three goaltenders who have struggled the most, Sogaard has a 17.23 GAA in his one relief performance.
Combined this season, Ottawa goaltenders have a 3.40 GAA and a .870 save percentage. Goaltending is a significant factor why the Senators are in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 22-19-7 record, and they are making NHL history in the wrong way with team save percentage.
While Ottawa is struggling with its goaltending, Korpisalo’s strong January is boosting his confidence and has the Bruins in a playoff position. Korpisalo has won all three of his January starts, while making 77 saves on 80 shot attempts. One of the three wins from Korpisalo was a 27-save shutout in a 1-0 Bruins victory this past Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Korpisalo earned the win in the Bruins’ last game two nights ago against the Chicago Blackhawks. After allowing two first period goals, Korpisalo made 18 saves in the final 40 minutes to help the Bruins win the game 5-2. Korpisalo finished the game making 22 saves.
Because of his hot January, Korpisalo has a 9-8-0 record with a 3.13 GAA and a .895 save percentage. In a stat that may sound shocking, Korpisalo has more wins than Merilainen, Soogard, Shepard, and Reimer combined. Korpisalo has a higher save percentage and lower GAA than the Senators do combined as a team, and he also has a better save percentage than Ullmark, the team’s number one goaltender.
Korpisalo’s one season in Ottawa was a tough one in the 2023-24 season, and he was traded away. Now, Korpisalo is finding his rhythm and boosting his confidence while his old team is struggling having the ability to stop the puck.
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