Columbus Blue Jackets Goaltending: Bobrovsky Injured

Columbus Blue Jackets Goaltending Situation Faces Question Marks and Uncertainty

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending situation took an unexpected turn Tuesday night when starter Sergei Bobrovsky went down with injury. He left the game with 5:35 remaining if the final period versus the Los Angeles Kings.

Columbus recalled G Joonas Korpisalo on emergency basis Wednesday. But, it looks as though he’ll stick around for at least eight more games after Thursday night’s matchup with Winnipeg. The former 3rd round (62nd overall) draft pick from 2012 is quickly climbing the Columbus Blue Jackets goaltending depth chart. He got his first taste of pro hockey towards the end of 2014-15.

"via NHL.com,Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who will be out three weeks with a lower-body injury, was placed on injured reserve Thursday."

"Released Wednesday via BlueJackets.com,The Columbus Blue Jackets have added goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to the roster on emergency recall from Cleveland’s Lake Erie Monsters, the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today. More from Puck ProseDetroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and DownsThis Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings"

"via BlueJackets.com,Korpisalo, 21, has gone 5-4-2 with a 2.12 goals-against average, .928 save percentage and two shutouts in 11 games with Lake Erie this season, stopping 295-of-318 shots faced. He leads AHL rookie goaltenders and is seventh overall in both goals-against average and save percentage. The Pori, Finland native is 5-6-2 with a 2.34 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 14 career AHL games since making his North American professional debut with the Springfield Falcons late in the 2014-15 season."

Sep 21, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo (70) against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena. The Penguins won 1-0 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

For the time being, Columbus hopes backup Curtis McElhinney will carry the load as starter for the next three weeks. In 2015-16, he’s played seven games, starting four, with a record of 0-4-1. He’s also got a 2.77 goals against average, with a .905 save percentage. McElhinney was taken in the 6th round (176th overall) at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by Calgary. Curtis spent 2002 to 2005 playing for WCHA’s Colorado College, making his pro hockey debut 2005-06 appearing in 33 AHL games. He made his NHL debut in 2007-08 with Calgary. He’s since suited up for Anaheim, Ottawa, and Phoenix, before he was traded to Columbus in 2012.

McElhinney is a quality backup goaltender, but he’s just that, a backup goalie in every traditional sense. But with an evolving NHL, even the backup position has seen changes. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for NHL teams to feature a 1/1A duo to gain a competitive advantage. The tandem pairing seems to work well, if your starter is struggling, at least there’s a solid second option to turn to. Chicago proved its effectiveness in the 2014-15 playoffs with Scott Darling.

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Columbus has an elite starter in Sergei Bobrovsky, but perhaps it’s time to give prospect Joonas Korpisalo some extra looks in-goal over the next three weeks. It’s been a rough start to 2015-16 for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Which begs to ask the question, would it hurt to give the 21-year-old prospect the bulk of starts? No matter who plays goal for the Blue Jackets over the next eight plus games, it isn’t likely to effect the final standings.