This shouldn't be any cause for debate, right? We'll get to that in one moment.
All-Star goaltender Joonas Korpisalo is officially back in the lineup for the Columbus Blue Jackets after missing 24 games due to a torn meniscus.
Korpi's Back #CBJ recall G Joonas Korpisalo, assign Thurkauf, Kivlenieks to @monstershockey https://t.co/K9T3B9l4Zz
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 23, 2020
Korpisalo suffered his knee injury during the shootout of a contest with the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 29. Korpisalo had surgery the next day to repair the torn meniscus and was dealt a 4-6 week recovery time.
Many hoped it would be on the earlier half of that prediction for a return, with Korpisalo's immediate replacement being the then win-less Elvis Merzlikins.
Oh, how far we have come. After losing his first ten games to start his NHL career, Merzlikins has gone 12-5-4, put up a .935 SV%, 1.95 GAA and five shutouts since.
Let us not forget, friends, that Joonas Korpisalo was absolutely lights out in the months leading up to his injury after an average beginning to his first season as a full-time starter.
He is an all-star. Literally.
Through his first 22 games on the season, Korpisalo was 11-10-1 with a .900 SV% and 2.77 GAA. In the nine games that followed (excluding the Blackhawks contest), the 25-year-old went 6-0-3 with a .943 SV% and 1.67 GAA and one shutout - beating the league-best Washington Capitals (twice) in the process.
Therein lies a good problem. What do the Blue Jackets do? Ride the hot-hand in Merzlikins, give the reigns back to all-star Korpisalo, or split the time until one clearly stands out?
Here. We. GO.
