What Happened to the Bruins’ Backup Goalie Job After the Korpisalo Trade?
Trading Joonas Korpisalo to the Rangers left an open spot behind Boston’s starter, and the preseason opener against Washington on Sunday gave the first real look at who’s in line to fill it.
What changed
With Korpisalo gone, the Bruins no longer have a set backup. Michael DiPietro got the start in goal for Sunday’s preseason game against the Capitals at TD Garden, with Jiri Patera behind him on the bench. That pairing is how Boston is using its first preseason game to sort out the competition for the job Korpisalo left behind.
Who’s competing for the job
Based on Sunday’s game, the backup competition currently comes down to two names:
- Michael DiPietro — got the start in the preseason opener
- Jiri Patera — backed him up in the same game
The available reporting doesn’t say who Boston’s starting goalie is or how the coaching staff plans to split the remaining preseason starts, so it’s not yet clear how this competition will resolve.
What’s next
The Bruins and Capitals play again Friday in Washington, closing out this stretch of the preseason schedule. That game — and the two other preseason games on Boston’s schedule — should give a clearer picture of how the goalie competition is shaking out. Worth checking the official Bruins reporting closer to that date, since goalie assignments in the preseason can shift game to game.
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