Lyon gave up four goals on 19 shots in the Sabres' loss to the Red Wings last Friday. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen started the last three games but the Sabres are expected to go with Lyon for Saturday's game in Washington. He's given up 10 goals on 52 shots (.808 SV%) in his last two starts, but is 10-3-2 with a 2.59 GAA, .910 SV% and two shutouts on the road this year.
After equally alternating starts between Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon for four consecutive weeks, the Sabres will turn to Luukkonen on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators for his third consecutive contest. The 27-year-old Luukkonen has a terrific 1.96 GAA and .933 SV% in his last five games (4-0-1). That said, the Sabres enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 road underdogs against a Senators team coming off an embarrassing 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Carrick suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Anders Lee of the New York Islanders and did not return to the game. The 34-year-old has 16 points (9G / 7A) and 65 penalty minutes in 73 games this season and is now expected to be out week-to-week. Josh Dunne will draw into the lineup as Carrick's replacement.
After equally alternating starts between Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon for four consecutive weeks, the Sabres will turn to Luukkonen on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators for his third consecutive contest. The 27-year-old Luukkonen has a terrific 1.96 GAA and .933 SV% in his last five games (4-0-1). That said, the Sabres enter Thursday's contest as slight +106 road underdogs against a Senators team coming off an embarrassing 6-3 loss to the Florida Panthers.
Strbak is a Slovak-born defenseman that was just awarded a three-year, entry-level contract after completing his third season of collegiate hockey. The 20-year-old 45th-overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft had 18 points (3G / 15A) in 37 games this season with Michigan State University.
Carrick suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Anders Lee of the New York Islanders and did not return to the game. The 34-year-old has 16 points (9G / 7A) and 65 penalty minutes in 73 games this season.
The Sabres have evenly alternated goalies in each game since returning from the Olympic break, but that will end on Tuesday, with Luukkonen tending the twine for a second consecutive game. The 27-year-old Finnish goalie has outplayed his counterpart, Alex Lyon, in recent weeks and was excellent in his previous outing, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Luukkonen has a 2.41 GAA and .915 SV% in seven games (5-1-1) this month. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as -185 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that played last night and lost 8-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Sabres have evenly alternated goalies in each game since returning from the Olympic break, but that will end on Tuesday, with Luukkonen tending the twine for a second consecutive game. The 27-year-old Finnish goalie has outplayed his counterpart, Alex Lyon, in recent weeks and was excellent in his previous outing, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout win over the Seattle Kraken. Luukkonen has a 2.41 GAA and .915 SV% in seven games (5-1-1) this month. The Sabres enter Tuesday's contest as -185 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that played last night and lost 8-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ostlund was absent from practice on Thursday and was a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old Swedish forward is averaging 13:58 time-on-ice and has 27 points (11G / 16A) in 60 games this season.
The Sabres have evenly alternated goalies since the Olympic break and will continue that trend on Friday in the front end of a back-to-back, turning to Lyon to tend the twine against the Detroit Red Wings. The 33-year-old Lyon has been excellent for the Sabres lately, but is coming off one of his worst performances, allowing six goals on 33 shots (.818 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks. That said, he is still boasting an outstanding 2.34 GAA and .918 SV% in his last 20 games (17-2-1). The Sabres enter Friday's contest as -156 home favourites against a desperate Red Wings team that has lost five of their last seven (2-4-1) as they battle for a Wild Card spot.
Ostlund was absent from practice on Thursday and it is unclear what his status will be for Friday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old Swedish forward is averaging 13:58 time-on-ice and has 27 points (11G / 16A) in 60 games this season.
The Sabres have evenly alternated goalies since the Olympic break and will continue that trend on Friday in the front end of a back-to-back, turning to Lyon to tend the twine against the Detroit Red Wings. The 33-year-old Lyon has been excellent for the Sabres lately, but is coming off one of his worst performances, allowing six goals on 33 shots (.818 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks. That said, he is still boasting an outstanding 2.34 GAA and .918 SV% in his last 20 games (17-2-1). The Sabres enter Friday's contest as -156 home favourites against a desperate Red Wings team that has lost five of their last seven (2-4-1) as they battle for a Wild Card spot.
With Conor Timmins (lower body) returning from a prolonged absence, Metsa will be the odd man out of the lineup and loaned to Rochester (AHL). The 27-year-old Metsa has been effective in his first NHL season as a bottom-pair defenseman, recording six points (2G / 4A) and a +20 plus/minus in 38 games.
Ostlund was absent from practice on Thursday and it is unclear what his status will be for Friday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old Swedish forward is averaging 13:58 time-on-ice and has 27 points (11G / 16A) in 60 games this season.
Samuelsson was absent from practice on Tuesday and was a game-time decision heading into Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins. The 26-year-old Samuelsson is having a terrific season, playing primarily alongside Rasmus Dahlin, tallying 39 points (12G / 27A) through 68 games.
Luukkonen was tremendous in his previous outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, and has been consistently reliable for weeks. The 27-year-old Finnish goalie has allowed two or fewer goals in nine of his last 10 appearances (7-2-0), posting a solid 2.19 GAA and .925 SV%. The only game he allowed more than two was a forgettable outing in which he allowed seven goals on 28 shots (.750 SV%), but he still salvaged an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as -193 home favourites against a Boston Bruins team that played last night and lost 4-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
