Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs
After shaky camp, Korpisalo rewards coach, Jackets teammates with shutout in opener
What a difference two weeks made.
Just two weeks ago, Joonas Korpisalo was lit up by his teammates in consecutive scrimmages during the Blue Jackets’ playoff training camp. A day after yielding six goals in a 6-0 scrimmage loss, partly the result of his team’s sloppy play, Korpisalo was torched again for seven goals in a simulated game in the Ohiohealth Ice Haus.
Two scrimmages, 13 goals —it was painful to watch. There was still time for Korpisalo to improve, of course, but at that point it seemed like Elvis Merzlikins was a lock to be the Jackets’ starting goaltender in the playoffs.
“We’re certainly evaluating,” coach John Tortorella said, two days after nixing a scheduled news conference that was supposed to follow the simulated game. “The scrimmage games are big for the goaltenders in evaluating them. We’re not thrilled about 13 goals, but it’s not … I mean … it doesn’t put you into a concern. I think we’ve got two really good goalies. We still have to figure out who’s going to start.”
Merzlikins faltered too, allowing an unsightly 11 goals during the Jackets’ final scrimmage of camp, two days before they hopped on a charter flight bound for Toronto
What: Game 2, qualifying series When: 4 today
Tv/radio: Fox Sports Ohio/ WBNS-FM (97.1)
and the quarantine “bubble” that’s currently their residence. At that point, it didn’t look like either of Tortorella’s goaltending options was ready, especially with a brisk five-game series on tap in the qualifying round against the highpowered Toronto Maple Leafs.
What a difference two weeks made. Heading into Game 2 of the series this afternoon, the Blue Jackets are up by a game thanks to Korpisalo’s performance in Game 1 on Sunday night. He made 28 saves, posted the franchise’s first playoff shutout and became just the 14th goalie in NHL history — the 10th since 1943-44 — to record a shutout in his playoff debut.
Also, his robbery of what looked like a sure goal off a one-timer by Toronto’s Auston Matthews late in the second period kept the game scoreless and instantly became one of the playoffs’ top highlights.
“I felt pretty confident from the get-go, and I think the boys played really good in front of me, battling for me to see the puck,” said Korpisalo, who was informed Saturday that he would start the game. “That was awesome. That was fun to play.”
Not bad for a guy who’d been torched in scrimmages a couple of weeks earlier, and who also had an All-star season interrupted by a knee injury Dec. 29 at Nationwide Arena.
After surgery to fix the meniscus damage, Korpisalo missed 24 games and watched Merzlikins thrive as the No. 1 goalie. Merzlikins had a league-high five shutouts between Dec. 31 and the premature end of the regular season March 12.
It felt like Korpisalo had lost his role at the Jackets’
top option because of his injury and Merzlikins’ talent, and the dual two-year contract extensions they signed in April appeared to cement it. Korpisalo signed for an average of $2.8 million a year, whereas Merzlikins got $1.2 million more per season.
Merzlikins also stayed in Columbus during the league’s pandemic pause, getting engaged during a visit with Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace in Michigan (and then married), while Korpisalo headed back to Finland.
None of it mattered, as it turned out. Korpisalo rewarded his coaches with a shutout Sunday night. What a wild two weeks it’s been.
“It’s nothing we didn’t expect,” defenseman Seth Jones said afterward. “Korpi’s a competitor, he’s a hell of a goalie and he made massive saves when we needed them … kept us in it. The save on Matthews was probably one of the best of the night, and we’re extremely happy for him. He’s come a long way.” bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger