Columbus Blue Jackets: Sergei Bobrovsky vs Joonas Korpisalo
Joonas Korpisalo seems to be getting more and more support to be the starting goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets as the season progresses.
While it would’ve seemed crazy just a few weeks ago, Columbus Blue Jackets backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo is getting more starts over Sergei Bobrovsky. While Bobrovsky has still started more games, it appears that Korpisalo will get the nod to start his second straight game.
As a result, it appears that Korpisalo is getting more trust from head coach John Tortorella. Neither goaltender has had a great start statistically, but Korpisalo has been more reliable when it comes to big time saves than Bobrovsky.
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A goaltending competition was expected next season between Korpisalo and top prospect Elvis Merzlikins, but it seems as if Korpisalo wants to capitalize on pending free agency.
Pros of Starting Korpisalo
Korpisalo isn’t an elite NHL goaltender, but he’s an above average backup and potentially an above average starter. This seems reminiscent of the situations in Los Angeles with Martin Jones and in Vancouver with Cory Schneider. A backup plays much better than expected and earns themselves a fair number of starts with an elite goaltender.
The difference here is, the Columbus Blue Jackets are going to be the team that gives Korpisalo a shot rather than a team in the other conference. Starting Korpisalo now gives the team a look at what they’ll have going forward, assuming Bobrovsky walks in free agency.
On top of that, Korpisalo hasn’t been amazing to start the season but he’s noticeably better than Bobrovsky. As a result starting the hot-handed goaltender gives the Blue Jackets the best chance to win.
Cons of Starting Korpisalo
Joonas Korpisalo isn’t historically the most consistent goaltender, he can have a bad game out of nowhere. While that’s true for all goalies, it seems to happen more regularly for Korpisalo than most.
His save percentage and goals against average, while the best on the team, aren’t very impressive. As a result, you know when you start Korpisalo you’ll get average goaltending so far this season even if he does make a couple big saves. Odds are you won’t get a show-stealing type of game from Korpisalo, especially compared to Bobrovsky’s odds of having one.
Pros of Starting Bobrovsky
Sergei Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, that says essentially all you need to know in regards to him. When he’s on top of his game, Bobrovsky is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. Playing him is the best way to get him back on top of his game, however you’ll have to deal with some down play first.
Cons of Starting Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky has been awful to start the year, and that’s not a hyperbole. He’s 2-4-0 with a goals against average of almost 4 and a save percentage of .872. The 30-year-old goaltender is having a bad contract year, which is not great for his future.
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Conclusion
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a goaltending controversy that came as somewhat as a surprise, and based on the comparison of the two there’s an argument for both goaltenders. As of now, it’s up to head coach John Tortorella to decide the controversy until Jarmo Kekalainen steps in.