Bruins Set To Make Some Big Changes To Their Goaltending Following This Latest Development
Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Outlook
Joe Sacco has a responsibility to the Bruins and will need to utilize his resources to win every game. With Joonas Korpisalo's latest victory against the Buffalo Sabres, should he rely more upon him?
The veteran goalie Joonas Korpisalo provided solid netminding against the Buffalo Sabres, as they won the game 3-1.
Korpisalo would make 19 saves that game on 20 shots, with a .950 save percentage against Tage Thompson, and the Sabres.
Korpisalo has found his game again, and the victory against the Sabres improved his record to 7-3-1, 2 shutouts, a 2.42 GAA, and a .904 save percentage.
An all-around improvement since his last season in Ottawa saw his decline from a storied career that included a legendary 85-save game in 2020 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Should Joe Sacco consider playing him more often?
With Jeremy Swayman's downward shift in play this season, he should consider rotation that could relieve Swayman of back-to-backs which has yielded loss after a loss, not to mention the diminishing save percentage we've seen recently.
Swayman has struggled more this year than in the past, which is reflected in his career worst save percentage (.887) and goals against average (3.13).
More than five times this season he's played more than three games straight, and unlike the shared responsibilities of the past with Linus Ullmark, he has to be THE guy in Boston.
A new situation, that Swayman is still learning how to handle. The burden has been to much for Sway whose been cushioned in the past with Ullmark.
Korpisalo may be three-seasons removed during his time as a starter in Columbus which saw him handle the role successfully, Sacco's structure could foster an atmosphere for the goalie to succeed again.
More than five times this season he's played more than three games straight, and unlike the shared responsibilities of the past with Linus Ullmark, he has to be THE guy in Boston.
A new situation, that Swayman is still learning how to handle. The burden has been to much for Sway whose been cushioned in the past with Ullmark.
As of Monday, Korpisalo is on pace for 26 starts this season and Swayman is on pace for 56. But, Korpisalo has handled bigger minutes in the past. He's logged more than 30 starts in five of his previous nine seasons, with a career-most 55 starts last year in Ottawa.
Now, with Korpisalo's upswing, Sacco should consider giving him more games in order to rest Swayman and see how it turns out for the Bruins because the current situation isn't working.
Not only should Sacco consider it, he's better at handling high-danger chances than Swayman.
Korpisalo's advanced stats show that he's also been more effective than Swayman at handling high-danger chances.
Out of 55 goalies who have played more than 600 minutes, Korpisalo ranks sixth-best in high-danger save percentage (.849), meaning he has been one of the best goalies in the league at saving the most dangerous shots. Swayman, meanwhile, ranks dead last (.711).
Korpisalo may be three-seasons removed during his time as a starter in Columbus which saw him handle the role successfully, Sacco's structure could foster an atmosphere for the goalie to succeed again.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 24 | 145 ANSWERS Bruins Set To Make Some Big Changes To Their Goaltending Following This Latest Development Should Head Coach Joe Sacco of the Boston Bruins give goalie Joonas Korpisalo more starts? | ||
| Yes | 115 | 79.3 % |
| No | 30 | 20.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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