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The New York Rangers have weathered a brutal stretch of injuries this season, none more impactful than the loss of star goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Widely regarded as one of the best netminders in the world, Shesterkin's absence left a gaping hole. Matters worsened when backup Joonas Korpisalo was sidelined for over a month with a foot infection before Shesterkin went down.
With both Shesterkin and Korpisalo unavailable, the Rangers leaned heavily on Dylan Garand, who appeared in 12 consecutive games (10 starts) due to a lack of alternatives. Spencer Martin relieved him once, and James Reimer made a single start, lasting just one period before being pulled.
Now, Korpisalo is back in the fold, making his second start against the Calgary Flames. His return is a significant boost for head coach Mike Sullivan, who finally has a second goaltender he trusts, alleviating the pressure on Garand to carry the load alone.
Korpisalo's Stellar Return
Korpisalo's impact was immediate. Just 3:41 into the game against Calgary, defenseman Zayne Parekh maneuvered through New York's zone and attempted a wraparound with what appeared to be an open net. Korpisalo, however, dropped his stick and dove across with his non-glove hand to make a spectacular save, one of the best of the NHL season.
"If I had a stick there, it's slower to get that hand there," Korpisalo explained to Vincent Z. Mercogliani of The Athletic. "It was an incredibly instinctive play," he added, crediting Parekh for getting him swimming. "It's just straight desperation."
The veteran netminder finished with 29 saves on 30 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Flames. Since returning from injury, Korpisalo has been excellent, posting a 2-0-0 record with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.
For the Rangers to succeed, they simply need league-average goaltending. With Korpisalo back and both netminders able to stay fresh, that goal is now within reach.