You almost have to laugh at this point, even if it turns to crying.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo has suffered a knee injury, according to head coach John Tortorella. Korpisalo is expected to miss several weeks, adding to the long list of injuries from the club right now.
UPDATE (Tuesday, Dec. 31): The Blue Jackets have announced that Korpisalo underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. His timetable for a return is estimated at 4-6 weeks.
The injury occurred in the first round of a shootout in an eventual 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night, after a goal by opposing captain Jonathan Toews.
A tough scene in Columbus as @BlueJacketsNHL goalie Joonas Korpisalo appears to get injured in the shootout. Backup Elvis Merzlikins came in cold to finish the game. pic.twitter.com/jK3DpJkJ4G
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 30, 2019
Korpisalo came up gingerly after the score by Toews and immediately went to the dressing room, to be replaced by cold backup Elvis Merzlikins who conceded the next Blackhawk attempt from superstar Patrick Kane.
#CBJ John Tortorella on goaltender Joonas Korpisalo: Its his knee. Its weeks.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 30, 2019
Korpisalo has not only been playing at a team-MVP level the past month but has been one of the top goaltenders in the entire NHL. In his last nine games before Sunday's contest, Korpisalo was 6-0-3, had allowed just 15 goals, recorded a shutout and was boasting a .943 save percentage.
For now, the pipes will be filled by Korpisalo's understudy, Merzlikins, 22-year-old Veini Vehvilainen and 23-year-old Matiss Kivlenieks, who are both with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL currently. None have recorded an NHL win, yet.
