McKenna’s Matchup of the Day: Mar. 22 – Joonas Korpisalo vs. Tristan Jarry

Former NHL netminder Mike McKenna provides his Daily Faceoff Starting Goalie Matchup of the Day for Tue. Mar. 22, 2022:

Why I like this matchup:

Due to their geographical rivalry, games between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins are fun. Both teams are usually well represented in the stands. And the players feed on the vibe.

What to watch for:

The 2021-22 NHL season has not been kind to pending UFA Joonas Korpisalo. Among NHL goaltenders that have played 15 or more games, the Blue Jackets netminder is dead last with an .878 save percentage. And I don’t think it’s just a matter of confidence. Korpisalo has shown flashes of brilliance over his seven-year NHL career but hasn’t been able to find the consistency necessary to thrive as a starter. That’s reflected by his career .902 save percentage. To me, Korpisalo has very little structure to his game. He’s constantly reaching and attacking pucks. And it’s telling that no team was willing to trade for him at the deadline.

Tristan Jarry is riding a four-game winning streak in which he hasn’t allowed more than two goals against. In his last seven starts, Jarry has wins over the Arizona Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the New York Rangers. Those aren’t easy matchups. I thought early in the season Jarry deserved to be in the Vezina trophy conversation. He carried the Penguins while the team battled injuries to star players. His numbers have regressed slightly but Jarry is still playing the best hockey of his career. I like the confidence in his depth and how well Jarry has been tracking pucks this season.

What fantasy owners should do:

Start Jarry and leave Korpisalo on the bench.

Bottom line for Joonas Korpisalo:

Get it together. Fast. He was once a top prospect – now he’s a reclamation project. A good start would be to stay in the blue paint more often. Korpisalo is constantly chasing the play.

Bottom line for Tristan Jarry:

Stay focused on the details. They’ll pay off come Stanley Cup playoff time. Jarry will be judged by his postseason play.