Luukkonen missed the final two weeks of the season leading up to the Olympic Break due to a lower-body injury, but will suit up on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. It's unclear if he will be between the pipes or serving as the backup, but both Alex Lyon and Luukkonen should see a reasonable workload for the remainder of the season as the Sabres fight for a playoff spot.
Luukkonen was originally supposed to represent Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics but had those dreams taken away from him after suffering a lower-body injury on January 27th and returned to practice in the starter's crease on Thursday. The 26-year-old is in his sixth NHL season and is posting a respectable 11-7-2 record, 2.73 GAA and .903 SV%.
With only one game remaining for Buffalo before the Olympic Break, it was semi-expected that Luukkonen would not play. Still, his inability to participate for Sweden at the Olympics poses some concern. Extensive details about Luukkonen's injury have not been revealed, but the team hopes he can return when NHL action resumes on February 25th.
Luukkonen was having a rough performance on Tuesday, allowing two goals on five shots (.600 SV%) and did not get the chance to redeem himself, exiting the game midway through the first period because of a lower-body injury. Colten Ellis entered the crease as Lukkonen's replacement, but expect Alex Lyon to see most of the action while Luukkonen is sidelined.
Luukkonen was having a rough performance on Tuesday, allowing two goals on five shots (.600 SV%) and did not get the chance to redeem himself, exiting the game midway through the first period because of a lower-body injury. Colten Ellis entered the crease as Lukkonen's replacement, but expect Alex Lyon to see most of the action if Luukkonen misses any time.
The Sabres are currently alternating between Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and will turn to Lukkonen to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old Luukkonen was stellar in his previous outing, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. In his last 10 games (7-2-1), Luukkonen is sporting an impressive 2.41 GAA and .922 SV%. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as slight +101 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs team on a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
The Sabres are currently alternating between Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and will likely turn to Lukkonen to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old Luukkonen was stellar in his previous outing, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. In his last 10 games (7-2-1), Luukkonen is sporting an impressive 2.41 GAA and .922 SV%. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as slight +101 road underdogs against a Maple Leafs team on a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
Luukkonen was terrific in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%), and will hope for more goal support on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 26-year-old Luukkonen has been solid in recent weeks, posting a 2.45 GAA and .919 SV% in his last nine games (6-2-1). The Sabres enter the action on Thursday as +105 road underdogs against a Canadiens team they defeated 3-2 one week ago.
Luukkonen was terrific in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%), and will hope for more goal support on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 26-year-old Luukkonen has been solid in recent weeks, posting a 2.45 GAA and .919 SV% in his last nine games (6-2-1). The Sabres enter the action on Thursday as +105 road underdogs against a Canadiens team they defeated 3-2 one week ago.
Luukkonen has been solid for the Sabres lately, but is coming off a performance where he struggled, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. That said, the 26-year-old Finnish goalie has helped his team record a point in seven of his last eight outings (6-1-1) while posting an impressive 2.51 GAA and .918 SV%. The Sabres enter Monday's contest as +166 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has outscored opponents 13-2 in its last two games (2-0-0).
Luukkonen had the night off in Buffalo's previous game, but he will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 26-year-old Luukkonen has been solid in recent weeks, allowing three or fewer goals in all but two of his last 15 games (9-6-0), posting a serviceable 2.54 GAA and .909 SV%. The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as -137 road favorites against a Flyers team that has been outscored 12-3 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Luukkonen had the night off in Buffalo's previous game, but he will likely return to the crease on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 26-year-old Luukkonen has been solid in recent weeks, allowing three or fewer goals in all but two of his last 15 games (9-6-0), posting a serviceable 2.54 GAA and .909 SV%. The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as -137 road favorites against a Flyers team that has been outscored 12-3 in their last two games (0-2-0).
The Sarbes' season-best 10-game winning streak snapped in their most recent game, when Luukkonen allowed four goals on 34 shots (.882 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 26-year-old Finnish goalie will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, looking to build on a 2.58 GAA and .901 SV% through 14 games this season (7-6-1). The Sabres enter the action on Tuesday as -163 home favorites against a Canucks team on a three-game losing skid (0-1-2).
The Sarbes' season-best 10-game winning streak snapped in their most recent game, when Luukkonen allowed four goals on 34 shots (.882 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 26-year-old Finnish goalie will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, looking to build on a 2.58 GAA and .901 SV% through 14 games this season (7-6-1). The Sabres enter the action on Tuesday as -163 home favorites against a Canucks team on a three-game losing skid (0-1-2).
With Alex Lyon currently sidelined due to an injury, the Sabres will rely on Luukkonen on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old goalie was solid in his most recent game, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. He has a 2.58 GAA and .897 SV% in 12 games this season (6-5-1). The Sabres are riding a nine-game winning streak and enter Wednesday's contest as +131 road underdogs against a Stars team with points in four straight (4-0-2).
Luukkonen stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Sabres' win in New Jersey last Sunday. It was a great outing for Luukkonen, who had struggled in his two previous starts. Tonight he'll face the Bruins in Buffalo, where he has excelled this season. UPL has gone 4-1-0 with a 1.97 GAA and .921 SV% in five home games. The Sabres are -130 home favourites.
