How Bruins’ Joonas Korpisalo Responded After Long Layoff

Joonas Korpisalo got the nod for the Bruins against the Pittsburgh Penguins for his first start for Boston since the Feb. 5 loss to the New York Rangers.

The Bruins netminder responded with a 29-save performance to lift the Black and Gold, 3-2, past the Penguins for his first win since blanking the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 23.

“Not easy,” Korpisalo told reporters in Pittsburgh about not playing for about a month. “I haven’t seen game time in a while. Just trying to go out there and have fun and do my best.”

Despite watching from the bench for the last four games, Korpisalo didn’t appear to be battling the puck at PPG Paints Arena.

“Not too many odd-man rushes or anything crazy like that,” Korpisalo said. “Saw the puck throughout the night and the guys did a great job in front (of me).”

The Bruins afforded the Penguins seven power-play opportunities in the game, and Boston was nearly perfect going 6-for-7 on the penalty kill. Of the 31 shots Korpisalo faced, 11 of them came shorthanded.

The lone Pittsburgh power-play goal came with just 22 seconds remaining in regulation. Not only were the Penguins on the man advantage, but they pulled goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic in favor of the extra-attacker. Richard Rackell scored his 26th goal of the season with his team skating 6-on-4 in the final moments of the game.

The Bruins have a quick turnaround as they face the Minnesota Wild in the second game of their back-to-back Sunday. No. 1 goalie Jeremty Swayman will most likely get the start at the Xcel Energy Center, but Korpisalo’s poise between the pipes could earn him the nod against the Nashville Predators when the Bruins return to TD Garden on Tuesday.