{"id":443637,"date":"2026-02-03T17:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T17:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/443637\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T17:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T17:40:14","slug":"finland-adds-bruins-goalie-to-olympic-roster-as-injury-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/443637\/","title":{"rendered":"Finland Adds Bruins Goalie to Olympic Roster as Injury Replacement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just eight days remain until the puck drops for Team Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan. With the start of the most prestigious international tournament about to commence, the nation announced that Boston Bruins<\/a> goaltender Joonas Korpisalo would replace Buffalo Sabres<\/a> netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after the latter suffered a lower-body injury.<\/p>\n

Luukkonen, a former second-round pick by the Sabres in 2017, was in the midst of one of the best seasons of his young career before he suffered the injury in the second period of a 7-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 27. Through 21 games, he had accumulated a 2.73 goals-against average and a stout .902 save percentage. He was set to be a key piece in Finland\u2019s run at the gold medal, but the injury put those plans into the rearview.<\/p>\n

Korpi gets the call \ud83e\udee1 pic.twitter.com\/ovH0xrA6oI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Now that Luukkonen is no longer an option, Finland is forced to turn elsewhere. Its eyes landed on Korpisalo, who through 21 games this season is 10-8-1 with a 3.12 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. A native of Pori, Finland, Korpisalo brings a veteran mindset to Finland\u2019s roster (not that the team is lacking in that regard). <\/p>\n

While his days of appearing in 50-plus games are over \u2014 he appeared in 55 matchups in his lone season with the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24 \u2014 his status as a steady backup to Jeremy Swayman has helped the Bruins remain in playoff contention this season. Finland hopes that\u00a0experience\u00a0translates to the ice in Milan against some of the best hockey players in the world.<\/p>\n

Team Finland is in Good Hands\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Dec 9, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets Mikko Rantanen (96) and Miro Heiskanen (4) in the second period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images | James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Team Finland\u2019s roster is littered with NHL talent. With a strong forward group led by Mikko Rantanen<\/a> (Dallas Stars) and Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes), the country shouldn\u2019t have any trouble scoring. Add in other players like Roope Hintz<\/a> (Stars), Mikael Granlund (Anaheim Ducks) and Artturi Lehkonen (Colorado Avalanche), and it\u2019s clear that Finland boasts some of the best scorers the hockey world has to offer. <\/p>\n

The blue line should be formidable as well. Players like Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell<\/a>, both from the Stars, will be formidable foes for any forward looking to score throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n

Where Finland lacks the most, however \u2014 at least compared to Canada, Sweden and the United States \u2014 is on the goaltending front. That deficiency becomes even more of a detriment after the injury to Luukkonen. With a goalie trio of Korpisalo, Kevin Lankinen (Vancouver Canucks) and Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators), it\u2019s difficult to see Finland\u2019s netminders stacking up with the best of the best from the other \u201cbig three\u201d countries. Of course, that trio of goalies aren\u2019t slouches, but when analyzing it based on what other teams have, it\u2019s evident that Finland is somewhat lacking.<\/p>\n

That being said, Finland\u2019s chances of making a run at the gold still appear to be intact. With Rantanen and Aho, everything is possible for the Finns.<\/p>\n

Team Finland begins Olympic competition against Slovakia on Feb. 11. It will then face Sweden on Feb. 13 before rounding out the group stage against Italy on Feb. 14.<\/p>\n

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!<\/a><\/p>\n