Blue Jackets can Larsen
The Columbus Blue Jackets fired coach Brad Larsen after two seasons without a playoff appearance, a move general manager Jarmo Kekalainen called “absolutely a necessary change that we needed to make.”
Kekalainen did not elaborate on why he thought Larsen wasn’t the right person to lead the team from behind the bench. He informed Larsen and players of his decision Saturday morning and was not interested in explaining exactly when he made it.
“We need a change,” Kekalainen said. “That became clear that we need a change.”
Columbus, which finished last in the Eastern Conference and
31st overall out of 32 teams, lost 102 of 164 games since Larsen succeeded John Tortorella. Columbus has the second-highest chance, 13.5 percent, of landing the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery. Kings use backup plan
A team rarely goes into the playoffs with two goaltenders who weren’t on the opening-night roster. But that’s where the Kings find themselves as they prepare to face the Oilers in the opening round for the second straight season.
As unsettling as that sounds, Joonas Korpisalo and Pheonix Copley have been solid.
Copley has been the team’s top goalie since early December, when he was called up after the earlyseason struggles of Jonathan
Quick and Cal Petersen. And Korpisalo is 7-3-1 since being acquired from the Blue Jackets on Feb. 28.
The Kings also have the second-lowest goals-against average in the NHL since March 1 at 2.20.
Coach Todd McLellan hasn’t said who will be his primary goalie, but it is likely to be Korpisalo. It will mark the first time since 2002 it won’t be Quick, who was in net for 92 straight postseason games and led the franchise to their Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014.
Quick was traded to Columbus for Korpisalo and defenseman
Vladislav Gavrikov. Quick was then dealt to Vegas.
Help on the way?
Wild forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Oscar Sundqvist skated for the first time since sustaining lower-body injuries April 6 against the Penguins. Minnesota begins its first-round series against Dallas on Monday . . . Maple Leafs goalie
Matt Murray resumed skating recently after suffering a concussion April 2 against Detroit . . . Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers (upper body) will likely play in Tuesday’s Game 1 against the Golden Knights.