Should Bruins be playing Joonas Korpisalo more?
Since arriving in Boston, Korpisalo has improved on his save percentage, goals against average and win percentage compared to his previous season in Ottawa and has racked up a 7-3-1 record.
As of Monday, Korpisalo is on pace for 26 starts this season and Swayman is on pace for 56. But, Korpisalo has handled bigger minutes in the past. He’s logged more than 30 starts in five of his previous nine seasons, with a career-most 55 starts last year in Ottawa.
So, should the Bruins be playing Korpisalo more?
So far he’s yet to play back-to-back games this season, but has handled the starts he’s been given successfully and has come up with some timely saves when the Bruins have needed him to.
Korpisalo’s advanced stats show that he’s also been more effective than Swayman at handling high-danger chances.
Out of 55 goalies who have played more than 600 minutes, Korpisalo ranks sixth-best in high-danger save percentage (.849), meaning he has been one of the best goalies in the league at saving the most dangerous shots. Swayman, meanwhile, ranks dead last (.711).
Simply put, Korpisalo has been reliable for the Bruins when they’ve needed him to make big saves.
So, maybe it’s time for the Bruins to rotate their goalies more. Giving Korpisalo more ice time would reward his strong play so far, as well as give Swayman more rest. And maybe a little more rest and a little less pressure could do Swayman some good.