After a month sidelined, Joonas Korpisalo finally made his New York Rangers debut yesterday. After dressing for their opening-night matchup in Boston, the veteran developed a foot infection, and Dylan Garand stepped in as backup. Soon after, disaster struck for Igor Shesterkin, leaving Garand as their only option. Despite most Rangers fans' worry, New York hadn't hit the panic button yet as they awaited their former backup's return. After a brief stint in Hartford, Korpisalo took the ice in Seattle and recorded his first win as a Blueshirt, stopping 25 of 28 shots in a 4-3 road win. Despite a third period most Rangers fans would love to forget, it was an impressive performance regardless, making fans wonder: is his veteran presence what the Rangers need going forward?
It’s safe to say Garand has done everything the Rangers have asked since becoming their starter. When you put a goalie in the net for 12 straight games, it’s hard to be a brick wall every night, but the rookie certainly held his ground. With Korpisalo back in the net, his presence showed last night, at least for the first 40 minutes, that the New York Rangers may not be out of it yet. The team that began the season hot is still in there somewhere, no matter who is in between the pipes, and the former Bruin may be just what they need. The tandem may not be as strong as it was at the start of the season, but perhaps that’s best for the team in front to pick it up. Though his stats don’t scream superstar, what can fans expect after last night's performance?
There’s no replacing Igor; that’s still clear, but New York may still have a shot no matter who’s in the net. They’ve proven with Garand in the net that they can still keep up with legit teams, and a veteran in the net could bring a much-needed mentality to get hot. Simply put, getting Korpisalo back is huge: it not only gives their rookie goaltender some much-needed rest, but it also helps New York stabilize their goaltending schedule for the future. It’s still unknown how both goaltenders will be deployed, but many can assume the 32-year-old goaltender will take the reins as the starter for now. As the season continues, it's safe to say the Rangers will ride this tandem for now, but is it enough to keep the bounce-back season alive?
