Blue Jackets’ Korpisalo having turnaround season
The pattern is well-worn at this point. The Blue Jackets had stretches where they were bailed out by their goaltender. They were unable to capitalize on their own scoring opportunities. Then they allowed two goals in quick succession.
In this case, the goals came less than a minute apart in the third period — and they eliminated any aspirations of a comeback against the Maple Leafs, who won Friday 3-0, keeping Columbus in last place in the NHL with 34 points through 52 games.
It was the fifth time the Blue Jackets have been shut out this season and illustrated how well goaltender Joonas Korpisalo has played, despite posting average numbers.
“Korpi was excellent,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “He kept us in there. We were a shot away for a long time. We actually had a couple decent looks there at the end of the second and early in the third, then they get those two quick ones on us. But he was outstanding, no question.”
“The only guy who played 100% for us was Korpi,” said defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. “He kept us in the game until the end. Without him, it could be more than three, I would say. Five or six for sure.”
After allowing a power-play goal to John Tavares early in the first period, which came at the end of a broken play as Sean Kuraly’s stick snapped and he skated to the bench for a new one, Korpisalo made 29 consecutive saves before the Leafs scored again.
Several of those saves came on breakaways, including a two-on-none rush led by Toronto’s William Nylander in the first period and a shorthanded two-on-one rush in the second. Korpisalo made 38 stops overall. “Some very key saves for us,” forward Cole Sillinger said. “He was our best player tonight.”
With the loss, Korpisalo’s record fell to 8-10-3, but his 3.33 goals against average and .907 save percentage, while far from ranking among the league’s best, paint a picture of the job he’s done while facing a high volume of shots each night.
After offseason hip surgery and a
challenging last two seasons, Korpisalo has rebuilt his game to be a steadying presence — even while playing behind one of the worst defenses in the league.
“He was the best guy out there,” Gavrikov said. “I’m so proud of him. He’s found his game and he just keeps going. I’m so glad to see him in good shape.” bjohnson@dispatch.com @Baileyajohnson_
MAPLE LEAFS 3, BLUE JACKETS 0
Toronto 1 0 2 - 3
Columbus 0 0 0 - 0
FIRST PERIOD: 1. Toronto, Tavares 22 (Marner, Bunting), 5:45 (pp). Penalties - Aston-reese, TOR (tripping), 2:34; Olivier, CBJ (interference), 5:03; Sillinger, CBJ (slashing), 18:37. SECOND: Penalties - Gavrikov, CBJ (interference), 7:22; Liljegren, TOR (high sticking), 12:08.
THIRD: 2. Toronto, Engvall 11 (Kampf, Rielly), 7:49; 3. Toronto, Tavares 23 (Marner), 8:38. Penalties - Columbus bench, served by Bemstrom (slashing), 14:38; Columbus bench, served by Bemstrom (slashing), 14:38; Jenner, CBJ (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:38.
Shots on goal: Toronto 14-14-13 - 41; Columbus 6-15-9 - 30. Power plays: Toronto 1 of 4; Columbus 0 of 3. Goalies: Toronto, Samsonov 18-6-2 (30 shots-30 saves); Columbus, Korpisalo 8-10-3 (41-38). A: 18,860. T: 2:21.