BOSTON — The Boston Bruins and Joonas Korpisalo beat the Dallas Stars on Tuesday 6-3. They are eight points clear of the Ottawa Senators, the ninth-place team. Their odds of qualifying for the playoffs grow by the day.
As such, they are nearing the point when a Korpisalo appearance would mean that something has gone wrong.
Jeremy Swayman, assuming good health, will occupy the net for every playoff game. In fact, it’s not out of the question that Swayman starts five, if not more, of the final seven regular-season tilts. Swayman is a workhorse who does not mind lots of action.
“I’d like to play him every game. He’s just that good,” coach Marco Sturm said with a smile before Tuesday’s win. “But we also have to look at what’s coming ahead and how we’re going to use him the best we can. The way we played (against the Columbus Blue Jackets), even down 3-0, it was not even his fault. Not at all. Then he made some really good saves in the second period to keep us in the game. He’s done it all year long. It’s fun to watch.”
Korpisalo stopped 13 of 16 shots. Jamie Benn, Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston beat him with close-quarters action. The Stars found some holes in the No. 2 goalie.
But Korpisalo helped his team bank two more points. He is 7-1-4 in his last 12 starts. It is not bad when you can get 18 of 24 possible points with your backup in net.
“It feels good,” said Korpisalo, who has beaten the Stars and Buffalo Sabres in his last two starts. “Big points, obviously. Hats off to the boys. They played awesome. They make my job easy.”
The Stars have serious firepower: Johnston (41 goals), Jason Robertson (40), Mikko Rantanen (21). Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley are blue-line drivers. Sturm classified the Stars as the NHL’s top club.
But the Bruins blanketed the Stars to the point where they only got 16 shots. According to MoneyPuck, the Bruins had the upper hand in expected all-situations goals, 4.8 to 2.58. The Bruins executed a three-zone smothering.
“We tracked 200 feet,” said Korpisalo. “Not many odd-man rushes. In zone, guys were boxing out, taking shot lanes away. Phenomenal job by everyone. That’s part of our 200-foot game today.”
The Bruins are trending the right way. At five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick, they have led in expected goals share in three of the last four games. Before that, they had been underwater for five straight games. They were relying too much on Swayman and Korpisalo.
The optimal manner in which the Bruins hope to play is by making defensive stands up the ice to keep the dangerous stuff from even happening. Their goalies are good enough to make timely saves.
Korpisalo proved that in Tuesday’s second period.
The Bruins were up 2-1. They were in control because of their checking. But Robertson, as he regularly does, spotted a soft spot. One of Dallas’ most dangerous finishers was off on a breakaway.
Robertson could have tied the game. But Korpisalo kicked out the winger’s snap shot with his right pad. He then stuffed Robertson’s rebound attempt with another flash of his pad.
“You have your prescouts on some guys. Maybe that was part of it,” said Korpisalo. “Obviously you play with your instincts. He’s a great player. Fortunately, I got a pad on it.”
Last year, Korpisalo told management during exit interviews that he believed he merited more action. He had a point. His .893 save percentage was better than Swayman’s (.892).
There is no argument anymore. Swayman is making a case for the Vezina Trophy. He has earned the starts that are coming.
Korpisalo, meanwhile, has met the ask. He has not been among the league’s elite. But he has not been expected to qualify for such merit. Korpisalo is what he is: a credible No. 2 goalie who can give his ace the rest he needs.
“It’s so important to have two really good goaltenders in this league,” said Sturm. “If you don’t really have them, it’s going to be hard. We’re very lucky this year to have two really outstanding goalies who have kept us in games and won us games. They give us a chance every night. Korpi’s been really good too, the last three, four starts.”