“It means a lot,” Korpisalo said following Bruins practice Tuesday at Baptist Health Iceplex. “I mean, obviously I feel bad for Luukkonen. [Crappy] timing for him just one week before the Olympics, but I’m happy to jump in and it’s a great honor.”
Korpisalo grew up watching the Finnish national team and said, “it’s pretty cool to get to pull on that jersey myself.”
Korpisalo burned up the phone lines calling his family, including his parents to let them know.
“Really happy for me, of course,” he said of his parents’ reaction. “Never know it was their first or last for NHL guys in the Olympics and like I said, it might be a one-time opportunity.”
Korpisalo has previously represented Finland at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, and 2012 IIHF Under-18 World Junior Championship.
Korpisalo, who led the postpractice stretch as nod from his teammates, said he thinks he will travel to Italy with Bruins and Finnish teammate Henri Jokiharju, but there’s still a ton of planning to go in a short amount of time. He planned to spend much of Tuesday working out the logistics.
“I got to figure everything today, so I have a family, two kids, they want to get there too, so I got to figure everything,” said Korpisalo, who is 10-8-1 with a 3.12 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage this season.
As for grabbing some new custom Team Finland garb — mask, pads, etc. — Korpisalo said that remains to be seen.
“We’ll see if I get any gear, but I’m happy to use whatever I have right now, so we’ll see,” he said. “It’s pretty tight.”
Jeremy Swayman, who will represent the United States in Italy, was thrilled for his partner.
“So excited. Face-Timed him right away,” said Swayman. “Just pure joy. Couldn’t be more worthy of being there and deserving, so I was really, really pumped for him.”
Swayman said the competitiveness the two have keeps both sharp.
“He’s just a true pro,” Swayman said of Korpisalo. “He knows how to approach the game as if every game is just a new day and I think that’s been really good for me to see and he’s a true competitor, so that’s the traits that you want and need in your lead NHL goaltender, which he is. So, that’s why he’s had so much success and it’s been an absolute pleasure battling with him every day for the last two years.”
Marco Sturm flashed a big smile when asked about Korpisalo’s selection.
“It’s great news and he really stepped up his game probably since the Buffalo game [Dec. 27],” Sturm said. “He really stepped it up and he deserved to be in there and I’m very happy for him.”
In addition to Korpisalo, Jokiharju, and Swayman, Charlie McAvoy (USA), David Pastrnak (Czechia), Pavel Zacha (Czechia), Elias Lindholm (Sweden), Hampus Lindholm (Sweden), and Dans Locmelis (Latvia) will be in Italy.
Any hangover from the Stadium Series loss in Tampa and all the pomp and circumstance that went along with it, was not apparent as Sturm ran a spirited practice that looked part scrimmage, part skills, and part conditioning.
“That’s a good thing. We had a day off in between,” said Sturm. “I’ve been on the other side, too, where we have to get going right away and it’s hard because it’s an emotional event, I would say. And I think it’s good to have a good day in between like we had [Monday] and guys were excited for a good practice and hopefully for a good game [Wednesday].”
The Bruins will wear their Stadium Series yellow duds for the game against the Panthers, who will don their Winter Classic outfits for the game.
Centers Elias Lindholm (injured reserve) and Zacha are still on track to compete at the Olympics, according to Sturm. “As of right now, yes, but again, they’re still not here, so that’s not good,” said Sturm. “So that means they still have issues, but at this point I think it’s probably more up to their doctors than ours and their decision moving forward. So, I don’t know when is the due date, but hopefully both will be OK to go.” . . . Brad Marchand, who is second on the Panthers with 25 goals and 50 points, has missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. The former Bruins captain is set to play for Team Canada . . . Lightning center Anthony Cirelli has been replaced on Team Canada by Florida’s Sam Bennett. Cirelli was injured in the first period of Sunday’s Stadium series game when he absorbed a hit from Bruins winger Mark Kastelic.
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.