Joonas Korpisalo pulled by the Boston Bruins in the second period and his night is done
Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
With the Bruins playing on a back-to-back, head coach Marco Sturm opted to rest Jeremy Swayman after four straight starts. Korpisalo got the start, making this his first start in five games under difficult circumstances.
From the opening puck drop, things felt uneasy. Boston looked loose defensively, and Korpisalo never found rhythm as Ottawa generated quality chances early and often.
Things got ugly pretty quick. Korpisalo surrendered five goals on just 17 shots, putting the Bruins in a deep hole before the game ever settled.
Early in the second period, with Boston trailing 5 to 1, Sturm made the call. Korpisalo was pulled, ending a rough night that spiraled faster than anyone expected.
Joonas Korpisalo start unravels for Boston Bruins
Statistically, the night was brutal. Korpisalo finished with an 11.54 goals against average and a .706 save percentage, numbers that underline just how little went right.
Some goals came through traffic and broken coverage, but elite goaltending moments never arrived. In games like this, teams still hope for one or two bailout saves.
The contrast with Swayman was unavoidable. Swayman has carried Boston recently, masking breakdowns and keeping games manageable. This outing reopened the conversation about how much trust truly exists in the crease.
To Sturm's credit, the decision itself made sense on paper. Protecting Swayman's workload matters over an 82-game season. The execution, however, fell apart once the puck dropped.
Korpisalo now faces a mental reset. Goaltending is fragile, and nights like this linger if not handled carefully. How Boston manages his next appearance will matter.
Should the Bruins limit Joonas Korpisalo's starts after this game?
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 21 | 158 ANSWERS Joonas Korpisalo pulled by the Boston Bruins in the second period and his night is done Should the Bruins limit Joonas Korpisalo's starts after this game? | ||
| Yes | 104 | 65.8 % |
| No | 31 | 19.6 % |
| Depends matchup | 23 | 14.6 % |
| List of polls | ||