Bruins preparing for Joonas Korpisalo to start season opener vs. Panthers

Korpisalo has posted a .936 save percentage through two preseason appearances with the Bruins.

With Jeremy Swayman still unsigned, the Bruins are preparing for veteran goalie Joonas Korpisalo to be the man between the pipes in Boston’s season opener on Oct. 8 in Florida.

“Where we are in camp right now, and with how well camp has gone and how well Korpisalo has done is, right now, he’s going to be our Game 1 starter,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said at the team’s season-opening press conference on Monday.

Such a scenario likely would have elevated the collective heart rate of Bruins fans just a few months ago, given Korpisao’s shaky play in net with the Senators in 2023-24.

Acquired by Boston as part of the deal that sent Linus Ullmark to Ottawa, Korpisalo was initially viewed as a potential reclamation project for Bruins goalie coach Bob Essensa. The 30-year-old Korpisalo was arguably the worst starting goalie in the NHL last year — posting a 21-26-4 record with an .890 save percentage.

Given Boston’s stingy zone defense and Essensa’s track record of reviving the careers of veteran netminders, the Bruins were ideally banking on Korpisalo to serve as a steady backup option behind Swayman in 2024-25.

But for now, the Bruins will have to operate with the assumption that Korpisalo is the man leading the team on the ice at Amerant Bank Arena eight days from now.

Even if Swayman does put pen to paper in the next week, Montgomery stressed that the Bruins may not have time to get the 25-year-old goalie up to speed before the start of regular-season play.

“The longer you go without seeing NHL shots and the longer you go without seeing that kind of tempo and pace in front of you, whether it’s a 5-on-5 scrimmage like we’ve been doing every practice or getting game reps, the further back you get pushed,” Montgomery said. “And that’s why I referenced that, say a deal gets done (with Swayman) tomorrow, there’s only a possibility of two practices before (Opening Night).

“Korpisalo has done really well, and we’re confident in him. That’s why I referenced him starting Game 1.”

It’s been a small sample size, but Korpisalo has submitted promising returns so far during preseason action with Boston.

Through two appearances with the Bruins, Korpisalo has stopped 44 of the 47 shots that have come his way — good for a 1.91 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.

The nine-year veteran had a tidy preseason debut with Boston last Tuesday, stopping all seven shots that came his way over 29:39 of ice time in the Bruins’ 4-2 win over the Capitals.

His latest outing was far more taxing, with Korpisalo turning aside 37 of 40 shots in Boston’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Flyers on Saturday. With Philadelphia granted seven power plays in the game, the veteran goalie had to withstand several quality scoring chances — finishing with 13 high-danger saves on 14 total shots from Grade-A areas.

“He was really good. He reads the play quickly. He gets across on the seam plays,” Bruins coach Montgomery said of Korpisalo immediately following Saturday’s game. “He comes out a the top of the crease and gives people not much to look at. Either they hit him right in the stomach or they shoot high because he’s not — with his size — giving up much to see the net.”

On Monday, Korpisalo didn’t want to look ahead of what might be asked of him on Oct. 8 in Boston’s season opener.

“No one has told me anything yet,” he said. “I just go day by day, and do the best I can every day. You never know what’s going to happen. If that’s it? So be it. I’m ready to play.”