SNAPSHOTS: Joonas Korpisalo starts his new chapter with Ottawa Senators
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Joonas Korpisalo is making himself at home with his new teammates.
After agreeing to a five-year, $20 million deal with the Ottawa Senators on July 1 as an unrestricted free agent, the 29-year-old veteran goaltender made his exhibition debut in the club’s 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.
Korpisalo, who spent the first eight years of his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings at last February’s trade deadline, was looking forward to his first opportunity to suit up with some of his new teammates after skating here for the last month.
“I’m not too happy about the last period,” Korpisalo told reporters in Montreal. “It was good to get the first one out of the way.”
Signing with the Senators wasn’t a difficult decision for Korpisalo, who was scheduled to play 60 minutes against the Habs. There was some concern in the second when he was crashed in the crease by Emil Heineman early, but Korpisalo remained in the game.
He did spend some time speaking to the training staff in a TV timeout and allowed four goals on 21 shots.
“Just seeing the team, I think it’s ready,” Korpisalo said following the club’s morning skate at the Canadian Tire Centre. “There are great pieces here. Playing against Ottawa last year, there’s something special cooking. I’m super excited to be part of the team now.”
Korpisalo has seen the commitment the Senators have made to take a step forward this season since arriving in Ottawa a month ago. He noted a lot of the players were here skating early because, after missing the playoffs six straight years, this group doesn’t want that to happen again.
“Guys came in early and started skating early,” Korpisalo said. “That tells you something; everybody is here to win and do something special.”
During his short stay with the Kings, Korpisalo finished with a 7-3-1 record, a .921 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average. He will help provide stability in the Ottawa net with Anton Forsberg after the club used seven goaltenders last season.
Korpisalo and Forsberg started their careers together with the Jackets. They won a championship with the American Hockey League’s Lake Erin Monsters to finish out the 2015-16 campaign.
The duo has talked a lot since Korpisalo signed here. Forsberg has been helpful in getting Korpisalo settled here in the city.
“It’s a great group of guys and it’s been pretty easy,” Korpisalo said. “I was asking a lot of questions of (Forsberg) before I got here and he’s helped me to get used to things. He’s been a huge help.”
They’ll be a tandem, but they also understand they’re competing for playing time, and that should be a healthy for the franchise.
“We’ve just got to keep it loose. We’ve just got to work our (butts) off and push each other,” Korpisalo said. “We have to have fun at the same time and support each other.”
CHEMISTRY LESSONS
Winger Vladimir Tarasenko made his debut Monday in Toronto on the left side of centre Ridly Greig and winger Drake Batherson.
That won’t be the case Friday night.
Coach D.J. Smith noted before camp started that he would try lots of different combinations, and the home game against the Winnipeg Jets won’t be any different.
The Senators will use Tarasenko on the right side of captain Brady Tkachuk and centre Tim Stutzle in the club’s fourth game of the preseason. That spot is usually occupied by alternate captain Claude Giroux, but the exhibition games are a chance to see where everyone fits.
“(Tarasenko) is going to play with those guys on Friday night,” Smith said. “I will mix the lines around. I know that line with Giroux is one of the top lines in the league and let’s see what (Tarasenko) looks like with those guys.
“As we know, lines change all the time, so to be honest I like Giroux, Stutzle and Tkachuk, but we’ve got to look at other options as well.”
Tarasenko, 31, brings some experience.
“Our young guys have swagger on their own, but having a Stanley Cup winner certainly helps,” Smith said. “We’ve got a number of guys that can score on any given night. They need one shot, they don’t need a bunch of chances to score, and Tarasenko is one of those guys.
“Being through the war of four rounds is something he can portray to the guys. For us, it’s 82 regular season games and trying to play an 83rd.”
UNHAPPY CAPTAIN
Tkachuk wasn’t pleased as he left the ice after taking a stick above the right eye during the skate with the second group Wednesday.
He wasn’t scheduled to face the Habs and by all accounts Tkachuk should be fine. He may have needed a few stitches to repair the cut, but he’ll be OK.
THE LAST WORDS
The defensive pairing of Erik Brannstrom and Travis Hamonic made its preseason debut against the Habs. There will be a good battle in the third pairing with Tyler Kleven and Jacob Bernard-Docker in the mix. Kleven didn’t suit up against the Habs, but Bernard-Docker skated with Ottawa native Donovan Sebrango. He was part of the deal with Detroit that brought Dominik Kubalik to Ottawa and sent Alex DeBrincat to the Red Wings.
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