Is Korpisalo finally turning the corner for Senators?

It’s that old chicken versus the egg question.

In the case of the Ottawa Senators during a recent five-game winning streak: which came first, better goaltending or better play in front of their goalies?

Part of us has to think that if the Senators’ goalies – especially their No. 1 guy, Joonas Korpisalo – had been playing like this earlier in the season, Ottawa could be in a playoff position right now.

More likely, it’s the combination plate. They go hand in hand – better goaltending and a more responsible team game.

Since stepping behind the bench in late December, interim head coach Jacques Martin has been trying to get his group to embrace team defence and the joys of winning a game by a 2-1 score.

Is it finally sinking in? How much credit does Korpisalo deserve for his six wins in seven starts prior to Tuesday’s 3-2 loss in Minnesota?

During their five-game winning streak, which ended with a loss to the Wild that probably should have been win No. 6, the Senators gave up two, three, two, zero and two goals.

It’s only a rumour that Martin printed off these box scores and framed them.

“The harder you work without the puck, you’re going to get it back and go on offence, and then you can be creative,” Martin said recently.

Sure enough, during that winning streak, Ottawa scored five, five, six, two and three goals, proving that when you play with a lead, there is a chance for that lead to grow.

The loss on Tuesday was instructive, because there were just enough leaks in the boat to sink it.

Giveaways and poor coverage led to the Wild’s first and third goals.

Korpisalo probably should have had goal No. 2, a long wrist shot from Matt Boldy, and perhaps No. 3, a backhand from Vinni Lettieri, left all alone in the slot.

“We beat ourselves, we gave them the goals,” was Martin’s assessment of this loss. “They (Minnesota) don’t give much, either. Both of our goals were on the power play (Drake Batherson and Jakob Chychrun). At even strength, we didn’t get inside, didn’t drive the net. A goaltender like (Marc-Andre) Fleury, you’ve got to get in front of him.”

It’s interesting that when things go well – such as that five-game run – you have to credit team play AND the goaltending.

And when things slip a little, both are at fault.

While winning six of seven games, Korpisalo gave up just 12 goals in the six wins and had these save percentage figures: .971, .909, .900, .917, .944 and .933.

In his lone loss, 6-2 to Boston on March 19, it was .769.

On Tuesday against the Wild, Korpisalo stopped 17 of 20 shots for an .850 percentage.

Not horrible. Just enough to make a difference.

Despite a desperate need for the Wild to pile up wins for their fading playoff hopes, the Senators outplayed Minnesota most of the night and outshot them 32-20.

On the morning of the game, Sens captain Brady Tkachuk was heard talking about his team doing the “little things” that have made such a difference during their win streak.

They didn’t do enough of those little things, including protecting the puck and covering the appropriate man in the defensive zone to hold Minnesota to fewer than three goals.

If they had, the Sens could be returning home with a six-game streak in hand as they prepare to meet the slumping but prodigious Florida Panthers on Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.

The wins don’t mean much at this point. On a practical level, they potentially hurt the drafting position in June. But playing well enough to win, playing together and playing with confidence, these are elements of the game that matter while general manager Steve Staios and his management group assess this roster for next season.

That brings us back around to goaltending.

It has been much better, as shown by Korpisalo’s numbers over the past few weeks.

Even Anton Forsberg got into the act, shutting out the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 last Thursday while facing 19 shots.

As unlikely as it is that Ottawa will return with the same tandem next season, Korpisalo has the contract that is tougher to move ($4M AAV through 2027-28).

Korpisalo has offered some signs that he could be a part of an effective duo, if the team plays tighter in front of him.

His overall numbers are getting more respectable. At 19-22-4 with a 3.27 goals-against average and .890 save percentage, they aren’t the train-wreck figures of a month ago.

If the Senators can’t move Korpisalo and four years remaining on that deal, the next best thing is to rehabilitate his game.

It may not be there yet, but it is showing positive signs.

30 for No. 19?

With four goals in his past six games, winger Drake Batherson has put himself within range of 30 for the season. Already at a career-high 27, Batherson has eight games remaining to get the three goals he needs. With 60 points in 74 games, Batherson has moved into a tie with Claude Giroux for third in team scoring, behind Tim Stützle’s 70 points and Brady Tkachuk, with 66.

Tkachuk leads the Senators in goals with 33. Stützle has 52 assists.