Joonas Korpisalo delivers perfectly for the desperate Bruins

Until the end, Korpisalo saved a total of five, seven and eight shots. By no means a heavy workload – an encouraging sign for Boston's dilapidated defensive line – but Korpisalo was tested with 4-5 low-slot offerings that could have easily escaped the clutches of a less competent goaltender.

The saves were punctual and sharp, crucial to the victory.

“You know, in every game there have to be timely saves,” said the mild-mannered Korpisalo, “and you have to be ready for them.” I think we weathered the storm pretty well today. I just had to make 1-2 saves and that was it.”

“One hundred percent,” Korpisalo said, asking if he saw his teammates gaining confidence as the afternoon progressed. “We were so good in the first hour. And when you have the lead, it's easier to play with the lead than to chase the game…like I said, we were in the driver's seat today.”

It was Korpisalo's fifth career shutout, his first since a brief stint with the Kings in the 2022-23 season, and he improved to 2-2-0 with a 2.70 goals-against average and .894 save percentage so far this season.

“I thought he was great,” said the team captain Brad Marchand. “He gave us the chance to win. He's been really good, especially lately. When you have a game like that, it's great that it helps you build confidence.

“He seems to be getting better every day. He’s a great guy, it’s nice to have him in the room and it was an incredible achievement today.”

Strive for improvement

An avid linksman, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery was asked before the game whether fixing a golf swing is at all comparable to finding a roster reset.

“I don't know about the roster, but…” Montgomery mused, “but it's more about the attitude…if you go to the (driving) range and work on your swing, you'll eventually find a rhythm.”

“We have to start repeating and playing the right way over and over again. The results may not come (immediately), but they will come eventually.”

Still no response from TJ

Experienced striker Tyler Johnsonwhose toolkit could be of great use to the currently struggling Bruins was not on this road trip. The two-time Cup winner, who was signed to a PTO before the start of varsity camp on September 18, remains a man without a country.

Before the puck drop, Montgomery said he hadn't spoken to Johnson recently when asked if the former Lightning star was getting “restless.”

“He certainly is,” Montgomery added. “It’s human nature to get in, but that hasn’t happened yet.”

Johnson, like all players who sign PTOs, remains an unrestricted free agent, making him eligible to sign with any of the league's other 31 teams if he does not reach a contract agreement with the Bruins.

According to puckpedia.com, the Bruins entered the day with just over $1.25 million in available cap space. That should be enough to sign Johnson to a one-year deal.

The secondary issue could be varsity roster spots and the possibility that the Bruins would have to demote someone to AHL Providence to add Johnson to the mix.

Together again

Elias Lindholm didn't attempt a shot that day, but he shot a reunited No. 1 line that Marchand and saw David Pastrnak fended off 17 attempts and put eight of the club's 31 shots in the net…Montgomery, despite the offensive and passing difficulties of Charlie Coyleplaced the former BU forward on the No. 1 power play unit, in a forward group that also included Marchand, Lindholm and Pastrnak. “We wanted March at the helm, he's really good there,” explained Montgomery. “Lindholm’s biggest offensive year was at the elbow, right where he was today. It's a very similar design to the New York Rangers power play that works really well.” …Coyle won 5 of his 7 faceoffs, a light workload, but a far better win rate than his first 11 games (42.3 percent)…No .1 point player Charlie McAvoy only landed one shot on net, but was more ready to shoot and fended off a total of six attempts… It was only the third time this season that the Bruins' opponent didn't have a second lead.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at [email protected].