Jackets assign Korpisalo, Hannikainen to Monsters, recall Kivlenieks

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 Matiss Kivlenieks, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced tonight.
Korpisalo, 23, has gone 1-3-0 with a 3.28 goals-against average and .896 save percentage this season and is 24-19-5 with a 2.73 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 49 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets. He has compiled a record of 16-16-5 with a 2.53 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in 38 career AHL games with the Monsters. In his lone AHL appearance of the 2017-18 season, he made 32 saves in a 3-1 win over Milwaukee on November 18. 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 two penalty minutes with a +1 plus/minus rating in 12 games with the Blue Jackets in 2017-18 and 3-3-6 and eight penalty minutes in 26 career NHL games. He tallied 0-1-1 and was +1 in two games with Cleveland earlier this season and has registered 26-32-58 and 42 penalty minutes in 109 career AHL games with Lake Erie/Cleveland over the past three campaigns. The Helsinki, Finland native was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jackets in April 2015.
Kivlenieks, 21, has gone 2-4-1 with a 2.70 GAA and .896 SV% in seven games with the Monsters in his first professional season. Last season, he captured the USHL's Player and Goaltender of the Year awards after going 36-7-6 with a 1.85 GAA and .932 SV% in 49 games to help Sioux City capture the Anderson Cup (regular season champions), leading the league in wins, GAA, SV% and shutouts (five, tied). The Riga, Latvia native was signed by Columbus to a three-year, entry level contract on May 25, 2017.
The Blue Jackets return to action on Monday as they visit the Montreal Canadiens. Game time from Bell Centre is 7:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 7 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Eldorado Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan and online at BlueJackets.com.