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Tag: Joonas Korpisalo Performance

  • Bruins’ Final Week of Season Sparks Optimism for the Future

    Bruins’ Final Week of Season Sparks Optimism for the Future

    The 2024-25 season has been a tough one for Boston Bruins fans. Missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16, dealing with the emotional trade of Brad Marchand, and firing head coach Jim Montgomery have made this one of the toughest seasons in recent franchise history. With one game left before the offseason, the Bruins are staring at a rebuild – or at least a reset.

    But even in the darkest of seasons, there’s always something to be optimistic about. As the Bruins wrap up this tough year, some bright spots have emerged that can be built upon. Here’s what stands out:

    Core Talent Still Shines Bright

    Even in the mess, the Bruins have a base to build on. David Pastrnak is still one of the best in the NHL and a Hart Trophy contender. Charlie McAvoy before his injury was reminding everyone why he’s a #1 defenseman and Jeremy Swayman has bounced back after a rough start to the season due to contract negotiations.

    And there’s hope for Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov too who have gotten better this year. For a team in transition, these core pieces are stability and a foundation to build on for next year.

    Fabian Lysell Breaks Through

    One of the few bright spots in a dull stretch has been Fabian Lysell. The 22 year old rookie finally scored his first NHL goal and added an assist he had earlier in the week against the Devils.

    Lysell’s game is built on aggression and confidence—he’s not afraid to shoot the puck, as seen by 6 shots in 12 minutes on Sunday. In 10 games since being called up, he’s had 3+ shots in 3 games. He’s had some defensive lapses (minus-3 against Buffalo and minus-2 against Chicago) but the Bruins need to see what they have in him. So far, Lysell is showing flashes of what could be a big player down the line.

    Korpisalo Looks Like a Keeper

    When the Bruins got Joonas Korpisalo, everyone raised an eyebrow. Compared to Linus Ullmark, Korpisalo is a reliable backup goalie. His 2.90 GAA this season is a big improvement over his 3.06 career mark entering the year.

    His save percentage has dropped a bit, but Korpisalo looks more like the goalie from his early days in Columbus than the inconsistent one we’ve seen lately. With Jeremy Swayman expected to be better next year, Korpisalo is solid depth in the crease – a must have for any rebuilding team.

    The Baby B’s Are Buzzing

    If you’re a Bruins fan looking for more reasons to smile, look to Providence. The P-Bruins are in the playoffs and loaded with young talent ready to contribute. Georgii Merkulov and Matthew Poitras are both over a point a game, and Dans Locmelis has 8 points in 4 games since signing last week.

    Fraser Minten, acquired in the Brandon Carlo trade, got an NHL call-up after 7 points in 10 games with Providence. Will Zellers, part of the Charlie Coyle deal, has 71 points in 52 games with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL. These are good signs, the Bruins pipeline is deeper than it seems.

    Small Wins Can Add Up

    Fabian Lysell, Joonas Korpisalo, and prospects like Merkulov and Minten won’t fix everything overnight, but they are small wins. With cap space this summer and talent coming back, these on the margin gains can complement smart offseason moves.

  • Bruins Fall Apart in Third Period, Lose Ugly Game to Sabres

    Bruins Fall Apart in Third Period, Lose Ugly Game to Sabres

    The Boston Bruins suffered yet another gut-wrenching collapse on Sunday night. That collapse came at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, who beat them 6-3 at KeyBank Center. What started as a promising first period quickly fell apart. Boston took that early lead and then just… gave it up. Six unanswered goals later, the Bruins were reeling. That was the 14th time this season they’d allowed six or more goals in a game. That tells you all you need to know about their ongoing defensive struggles—and their inability to keep that momentum going.

    A Promising Start Turns Sour

    Boston came out firing in the first period, scoring twice to set the tone. But the Sabres just wouldn’t let up. They flipped the script entirely in the second and third periods.

    “We just weren’t good enough in the second,” Elias Lindholm said after the game. “And in the third, we were just soft.” He summed it up pretty well. “It’s not good enough. That’s it. We’ve been pretty bad in the second period. Usually we get off to a good start and then fall apart a little bit in the second. It’s tough to win games when that happens.”

    That inability to sustain that first-period momentum has become a real issue for the Bruins. Opponents have been capitalizing on that weakness all season. They turn early deficits into late-game rallies that leave Boston chasing the scoreboard.

    Third-Period Collapse Seals the Loss

    Third-period collapse seals the loss—and the Bruins’ hopes. Interim head coach Joe Sacco acknowledged the team’s struggles, but he also knows mental toughness is what separates winners from losers in those high-pressure situations.

    “We didn’t like giving up that two-goal lead in the second period. Being tied at 3-3 going into the third on the road—well, that’s not a bad spot to be in. Even if you didn’t have a good second period. And then in the third, it’s just about staying focused and keeping the game in front of you,” Sacco said.

    Fatigue and bad decision-making really caught up with the Bruins in that final frame. Breakaways and defensive lapses just snowballed—and Joonas Korpisalo was back out there for an empty-netter in the final seconds.

    Korpisalo’s Struggles Continue

    Korpisalo faced 36 shots from the Sabres. He let in five goals. Over his last two games, that’s 11 goals he’s surrendered. His save percentage against Buffalo this season is now .895.

    “That was a back-to-back for both teams,” Korpisalo said, “and I think in the second period we spent a lot of time in our own zone. I don’t know what to say about that.” Despite that tough outing, Korpisalo remains a key part of Boston’s lineup as they navigate the final stretch of this disappointing season.

    Silver Linings in the Dark Clouds

    While the Bruins’ defense was a mess, there were a few bright spots. Center Morgan Geekie extended his point streak to 7 games, scoring his 5th goal in that span. He also had 8 assists and 3 power play points in that stretch, showing off his offense.

    On the other side, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is still Boston’s kryptonite, finishing the season 3-0-0 with a .897 save percentage. He made 17 saves Sunday night.

    Playoff Hopes All But Gone

    With Sunday’s loss, the Bruins are 31-38-9 and 11-12-1 in their last 24 games. They have 4 games left and playoff hopes are all but gone.

    The Bruins will try to regroup Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Puck drop is 7 p.m. , pregame coverage starts at 6 p.m. on NESN+.