Blue Jackets assign Korpisalo, Hannikainen to Monsters, recall Zatkoff

COLUMBUS, OHIO ---The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and forward Markus Hannikainen to the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate, and recalled goaltender Jeff Zatkoff from Cleveland, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Korpisalo, 23, is 5-6-0 with a 3.15 goals-against average (GAA) and .903 save percentage (SV%) in 12 games with the Blue Jackets in 2017-18. He also has a 2-4-1 record with a 2.15 GAA and .928 SV% in seven contests with Cleveland. He has gone 28-22-5 with a 2.78 GAA, .913 SV% and one shutout in 57 career NHL games with Columbus and 17-20-6 with a 2.50 GAA, .911 SV% and two shutouts in 44 career AHL games with the Monsters. The native of Pori, Finland was selected by Columbus in the third round, 62nd overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Hannikainen, 24, has collected 2-2-4 and six penalty minutes in 29 games with Columbus this season to raise his career NHL totals to 3-3-6 and 12 penalty minutes in 43 outings. He has also appeared in seven games with Cleveland in 2017-18, picking up three assists. He has registered 26-34-60 and 42 penalty minutes in 114 career AHL games and added 3-7-10 in 16 games during the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, helping the Monsters win the AHL championship. The Helsinki, Finland native was signed by Columbus as a free agent in April 2015.
Zatkoff, 30, is 1-2-1 with a 3.43 GAA, .869 SV% and one shutout in five games with the Monsters this season. He is 99-84-7 with a 2.47 GAA, .914 SV% and 17 shutouts in 213 career AHL games with the Monsters, Ontario Reign, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Manchester Monarchs since making his pro debut in 2008-09. The Detroit, Michigan native has gone 18-21-4 with a 2.72 GAA, .908 SV% and one shutout in 48 career NHL games with the Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins. Originally Los Angeles' third round selection, 74th overall, in the 2006 NHL Draft, Zatkoff was acquired by Columbus from Los Angeles on January 22 for future considerations.
The Blue Jackets return to action on Saturday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks. Game time from Nationwide Arena is 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Eldorado Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including flagship station 97.1 The Fan, and online at BlueJackets.com.