Buffalo Sabres News

Luukkonen appears to be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.

Clifton was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of Nico Hiscier on October 27th. Clifton skated alongside Erik Johnson on the third pair in Thursday's practice, indicating that he'll be back in the lineup on Friday vs. the Flyers. Prior to the suspension, Clifton had one assist, a minus-6 rating, 12 SOG and 23 hits in eight games.

Tuch did not participate in the Sabres' skate Thursday after missing practice due to maintenance and is a game-time decision Friday vs. Philadelphia after Lukas Rousek was recalled from Rochester (AHL). The 27-year-old right-winger has a goal, six assists, 20 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 10 games this season.

Rousek started off the season hot in Rochester (AHL) and has earned himself a call-up to Buffalo Thursday after putting up two goals, four assists, four PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in eight games. The 24-year-old made his NHL debut in 2022-23, appearing in two games and scoring a goal and an assist. Alex Tuch missed Thursday's team practice due to maintenance so if he is unable to go, Rousek should be expected to take his spot in the Sabres' lineup.

Byram was listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday's game but will suit up for his ninth game of the season. Byram enters the evening with one goal and one assist (two points) while firing 11 shots on goal and averaging 18:39 TOI/gm.

Reimer has been terrific in limited action this season, posting a 1.68 GAA and .939 SV% in three games (2-1-0) and will get the nod in between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Reimer has never finished a season with a sub-2.31 GAA so this is unfamiliar territory for the veteran netminder and is likely unsustainable going forward. The Red Wings are +106 home underdogs against a Panthers team that is 4-3-1 to start the season.

Devon Levi has officially returned to the Sabres' lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury but will serve as the backup, at least for his first game, to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen didn't get his chance to be the number-one goaltender in Buffalo until Eric Comrie (lower-body) also went down with an injury but has filled in admirably after being called upon. Coming off his best performance thus far, a 23-save shutout victory over the Colorado Avalanche, Luukkonen has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in three games this season (2-1-0). The Sabres are slight +101 road underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has done a decent job finding the back of the net, averaging 3.33 goals per game so far this season (4-4-1).

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Byram could play on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blue but will be a game-time decision. The 22-year-old defenseman has two points (1G / 1A) in eight games while averaging 18:40 time-on-ice. Caleb Jones was recalled earlier from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and could be an option to slide into the lineup if Byram is unable to go.

Levi appears ready to return to the Sabres lineup on Wednesday after missing five games with a lower-body injury. He has a 3.26 GAA and .892 SV% in four games (1-3-0) this season. It is still unclear if Levi will return as the starting goalie or the backup on Wednesday to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is coming off a 23-save shutout against the Colorado Avalanche.

Sandstrom played 20 games for the Flyers last season, recording a 3.72 GAA and .880 SV% and could end up being the backup option for the Flyers after his conditioning stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Carter Hart has been terrific for the Flyers this season, starting seven of nine games, but the Flyers have been blown out in the two games Samuel Ersson started, being outscored 12-8 (0-1-1).

Benson has been dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for three of the Sabres' last five games and has now been given a week-to-week designation. The rookie has two points (0G / 2A) along with six shots on goal while averaging 13:17 time-on-ice through six games.

Clifton delivered an illegal check to the head of Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils in the Sabres' 5-4 loss on Friday night. He received a match penalty on the play and has subsequently been suspended for two games. Hischier was forced to leave the game for the Devils and has already been ruled out for their next contest on Sunday. In eight games this season, Clifton has one point (0G / 1A) and has racked up 28 penalty minutes along with a -6 plus/minus rating.

With Eric Comrie and Devon Levi both still unavailable due to lower-body injuries, the Sabres will turn to Luukkonen on Sunday. Luukkonen stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced in relief of Comrie in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils. The 24-year-old netminder will need to string together some stronger performances if he wants to continue challenging for starts following the returns of Levi and Comrie. Luukkonen owns an .881 SV% and a 4.78 GAA through two appearances this season.

Reimer, who has a sparking 1.00 GAA and .963 SV% in two games (2-0-0), will return to the crease for the Red Wings on Thursday and hope to build on his terrific start to the season. This will mark Reimer's second start in the Red Wings' last three games. Albeit a very small sample size, Reimer has outperformed starting goaltender Ville Husso and could be in line for more starts if he can continue shutting the door for the Red Wings. The Red Wings will look to rebound after losing for the first time in six games (5-0-1) against a Winnipeg Jets team that is 3-3-0 to start the season.

With the Sabres' on the second half of a back-to-back, Devon Levi (lower-body) injured, and Eric Comrie starting yesterday, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to make his season debut Tuesday vs. Ottawa. Luukkonen has yet to make an appearance in 2023-24 but was 17-11-4 with a .892 SV% and a 3.61 GAA in 32 games started with the Sabres in 2022-23. He takes on the Ottawa Senators, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a loss last game but are third in the NHL in goals per game (4.2).

Zucker is week-to-week after exiting Saturday's game against the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury. In his first season with the Coyotes, Zucker has two points (2G / 0A), 14 shots, and 7 hits in five games. Jan Jenik and Zach Sanford have both been recalled from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).

With the Sabres' on the second half of a back-to-back, Devon Levi (lower-body) injured, and Eric Comrie starting yesterday, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to make his season debut Tuesday vs. Ottawa. Luukkonen has yet to make an appearance in 2023-24 but was 17-11-4 with a .892 SV% and a 3.61 GAA in 32 games started with the Sabres in 2022-23. He takes on the Ottawa Senators, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a loss last game but are third in the NHL in goals per game (4.2).

Levi will remain out of the lineup for at least the next two games while he recovers from a lower-body injury. Eric Comrie, who was excellent filling in for Levi on Saturday by making 24 of 25 saves in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders, will tend the crease for the Sabres on Monday. Levi has a 3.26 GAA and .890 SV% in four games (1-3-0) and isn't expected to miss a significant amount of time.

Levi is currently day-to-day as he nurses a lower-body injury and will not be in the Sabres' lineup Saturday. Levi has been the starting goalie for each of the Sabres' four games thus far (1-3-0), recording a 3.26 GAA and .890 SV%. Eric Comrie will be replacing him as the Sabres' starters net.