Sabres’ Tage Thompson, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out day-to-day; Mattias Samuelsson out indefinitely

Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff announced that defenseman Mattias Samuelsson will be out indefinitely.

Ruff also stated that Tage Thompson and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be out day-to-day.

Samuelsson headed to the Sabres locker room after blocking a shot in front of the Sabres net during Monday’s 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Samuelsson has one point in 12 games while racking up 14 blocked shots and 23 hits in 16:52 minutes of ice time. The 24-year-old was healthy scratched last week and watched the Sabres game against the Ottawa Senators from the press box.

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff explained the scratch, “I’ve probably been more patient than I’ve ever been, just trying to figure these guys out,” Ruff told reporters during his post-game availability. “But, there’s a standard you have to play to and their standard hasn’t been good enough.”

Thompson has racked up 11 goals and 18 points in 16 games this season, leading all Sabres skaters. After posting a career-best 47 goals and 94 points during the 2022-23 campaign, Thompson took a step back and tallied 29 goals and 59 points during the 2023-24 campaign.

Luukkonen currently has a 6-4-1 record and a .903 save percentage through 12 games. The 25-year-old Finnish native signed a five-year, $23.75 million contract extension this past summer. The contract has an average annual value (AAV) of $4.75 million.

Buffalo is currently 7-8-1 and sits sixth in the Atlantic Division with 15 points tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres are set to face the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, then will face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.