Solid play earns Korpisalo start vs. Ducks
Backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made his second consecutive start on Friday night at Nationwide Arena against the Anaheim Ducks, after getting just four starts through the Blue Jackets’ first 23 games.
Coach John Tortorella said he planned to split up the back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, at the Washington Capitals, between Korpisalo and Bobrovsky.
He decided to give Korpisalo the front half because he played well Tuesday in a 3-2 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and so Bobrovsky could work on technical skills with goaltending coach Ian Clark.
Because this week’s schedule featured two pairs of back-to-backs with two days in between, resting Bobrovsky for Tuesday’s and Friday’s games gave Clark “a chance to work with him for a few days not being concerned about gassing him for games,” Tortorella said.
He added that the Blue Jackets’ opponents — Anaheim is a Western Conference team and Washington is a Metropolitan Division rival — didn’t influence the order, but he would have reconsidered starting Korpisalo on Friday had he been coming off a poor performance.
Pair has struggles
Tortorella said he is concerned that defensemen Jack Johnson and David Savard didn’t play “fast enough” the first quarter of the season.
He said both have improved but can still get better. Tortorella said the duo’s skating isn’t a problem. Rather, it’s decision-making.
“We’re a little stuck in the mud with them at times,” Tortorella said, noting that Savard needs to anticipate more and Johnson has “too many thoughts in his head” and needs to be more aggressive and take risks.
Contract concerns
Johnson, 30, is in the final season of his contract. Much like right wing Cam Atkinson before his new deal last month, the uncertainty Johnson faces can affect him, Tortorella said.
“I’m sure (players) are thinking about it when they’re in these types of situations,” he said. “You need to respect that. But also, the players need to be pros and prepare and play the best they can.”
Harrington gets in again
For the second consecutive game, Scott Harrington filled in for Ryan Murray as Markus Nutivaara’s defensive partner. Tortorella said he is unsure when Murray will return from an upper body injury suffered during a loss on Monday at Montreal.
The Blue Jackets recalled defenseman Gabriel Carlsson and winger Markus Hannikainen from minor-league Cleveland on Friday, but Carlsson’s promotion was only so the team could carry seven defensemen for Saturday’s road game. Tortorella said Harrington will continue to be Murray’s replacement and Carlsson will play with Cleveland.