Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Battles for first win
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Luukkonen stopped 31 of 34 shots on goal in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Capitals.
Luukkonen's second start of the season got off to a shaky start, as he allowed two goals in the first two and a half minutes. Outside that mark, he was nearly perfect, allowing just one more goal across regulation and overtime en route to the shootout win. Luukkonen now has a 1-0-1 record with a 3.33 GAA and an .877 save percentage in two games this season. The return to the win column for the 26-year-old netminder should chip away at the fantasy value of fellow goalie Alex Lyon, who has a 3-4-2 record through nine games this season. Luukkonen will likely be the team's top option between the pipes moving forward, giving him solid fantasy value once the volume starts to match his totals from seasons past. His next chance to take the ice is at home Tuesday against the Mammoth.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Between pipes Saturday
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Luukkonen will patrol the home crease versus Washington on Saturday, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Luukkonen has fared well against the Capitals in his career, posting a 5-1-2 record with a 2.91 GAA and a .904 save percentage. Luukkonen has made only one start this season, as he suffered a lower-body injury during training camp. He allowed four goals on 23 shots in an overtime loss to Toronto on Oct. 25.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: OT loss in season debut
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Luukkonen made 18 saves Saturday in a 4-3 overtime loss to Toronto.
He made his season debut after missing the first seven games of the season due to a lower-body injury. Luukkonen was solid, but he may want back the third goal he allowed. Dakota Joshua cut across the slot and shot past the netminder's glove from the left faceoff dot. Luukkonen's return creates a logjam in the net for the Sabres, but he's a good bet to become the team's top option again over Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis (back).
Luukkonen will guard the road goal against Toronto on Saturday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Luukkonen will make his season debut because Colten Ellis (undisclosed) is unavailable. The 26-year-old Luukkonen had a 24-24-5 record with two shutouts, a 3.20 GAA and an .887 save percentage across 55 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. After missing the first seven games of the year due to a lower-body injury, he was the backup netminder behind Alex Lyon in Friday's 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Off injured reserve
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Luukkonen (lower body) was taken off injured reserve Thursday, per the NHL media site.
Luukkonen hasn't played for Buffalo yet this year because of the injury, but he was sent to AHL Rochester for conditioning and stopped 21 of 23 shots for the Americans on Wednesday. Luukkonen has completed his conditioning stint in addition to being taken off injured reserve, so he should be an option for Friday's home game against Toronto. Colten Ellis might be sent to the minors to avoid having three healthy goaltenders on the NHL roster, and Luukkonen will likely compete with Alex Lyon for starts.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Headed for conditioning stint
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Luukkonen (lower body) was reassigned to AHL Rochester on a conditioning assignment Tuesday.
Luukkonen figures to get the start for the Americans in Wednesday's matchup with AHL Syracuse, though he could stay in the minors a little longer. At a minimum, the netminder shouldn't be expected to suit up for Wednesday's clash with the Red Wings. In the meantime, Alex Lyon figures to continue seeing the bulk of the starts for the Sabres.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Officially ruled out Thursday
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Luukkonen (lower body), as expected, was officially ruled out against the Rangers on Thursday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
Luukkonen was expected to miss at least a week to open the season, so his absence for Opening Night shouldn't come as a surprise. With the 26-year-old backstop on the shelf, Alex Lyon looks poised to play Thursday -- though head coach Lindy Ruff hasn't officially named a starter. Despite missing the early part of the year, Luukkonen should still reach the 50-game threshold this year as the Sabres' No. 1 option in the crease, assuming he can shake off his injury issues.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Won't dress Friday
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Luukkonen (lower body) will not be available against the Penguins on Friday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
With Alex Lyon already confirmed as the starter for Friday's preseason finale, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see Luukkonen being held out completely while Alexandar Georgiev serves as the backup. The priority for Buffalo will be getting the 26-year-old Luukkonen healthy in time to face the Rangers in the season opener at home Thursday.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Injured again Wednesday
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Luukkonen aggravated his lower-body injury during Wednesday's game versus the Penguins and won't return to the contest.
Luukkonen's injury woes seem likely to linger into the regular season at this point, as this was his first game of the preseason. He had previously been aiming for an Opening Night return, and it appears that accelerating that timeline didn't go well. If Luukkonen misses additional action, expect Alexandar Georgiev and Alex Lyon to share the goaltending duties for the Sabres.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Set to start Wednesday
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Luukkonen (lower body) will guard the cage at home against the Penguins on Wednesday, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.
Head coach Lindy Ruff hasn't decided if Luukkonen will play two periods or the full game Wednesday, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports. Either way, his return to the crease clears the way for Luukkonen to get the nod for the season opener versus the Rangers on Oct. 9. With Luukkonen cleared to return, one of Alex Lyon or Alexandar Georgiev will likely be shipped down to AHL Rochester.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Anticipating Opening Night return
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Luukkonen (lower body) is expecting to be ready for Opening Night against the Rangers on Oct. 9, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports Thursday.
Luukkonen practiced for the first time during training camp Thursday, but look for the team to ease him back into action -- if the netminder plays in a preseason game at all. The Sabres have four more opportunities for Luukkonen to face some rubber before the season opener. In the meantime, Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev figure to continue battling for the No. 2 spot in Buffalo.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Back at practice Thursday
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Luukkonen (lower body) returned to practice Thursday, per Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.
Luukkonen will partake in his first practice session in training camp. The 26-year-old starting netminder was 24-24-5 with a 3.20 GAA and an .887 save percentage across 55 regular-season contests in 2024-25. Luukkonen will be challenged for the top spot, as the Sabres signed Alexandar Georgiev and Alex Lyon to compete with Luukkonen and Devon Levi between the pipes.
Luukkonen reported to training camp with an undisclosed injury, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic reports Friday.
A league source stated that Luukkonen came to camp with a "tweak." The Sabres are not sure as to the severity of the injury, and there is no timetable for a return. Buffalo inked Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year contract Thursday, in case Luukkonen is not ready for the start of the 2025-26 campaign. Luukkonen was 24-24-5 with a pair of shutouts, a 3.20 GAA and an .887 save percentage across 55 regular-season appearances for the Sabres in 2024-25.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Falls to Florida in shootout
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Luukkonen stopped 32 shots in regulation and overtime and two of three shootout attempts in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Panthers.
The 26-year-old netminder played well -- his 32 saves were his most in a start in over a month -- but didn't get quite enough help to come away with his 25th win of the season. Luukkonen has lost his grip on the starting job to James Reimer in recent weeks, but the latter will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and may have priced himself out of Buffalo's plans with his recent performances. Luukkonen, with four more years and $19 million left on his contract, will still be a big part of the goaltending picture for the Sabres in 2025-26.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Flops against Philly
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Luukkonen made 25 saves in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Flyers.
The Sabres took a 3-2 lead midway through the second period on a Jack Quinn power-play tally, but Luukkonen and the Buffalo defense were simply overwhelmed over the last half of the contest. The 26-year-old goalie has fallen apart in March, coughing up five or more goals in four of his 10 appearances while going 3-7-0 with a 4.11 GAA and .848 save percentage.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Concedes two goals in win
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Luukkonen saved 17 of 19 shots on goal in Monday's 3-2 overtime win against Boston.
Outside of the two goals Boston scored in the first period, Luukkonen kept Buffalo's net clean across the final 50 minutes of action Monday. With the overtime win, the 26-year-old netminder has a 23-21-4 record with a 3.16 GAA and an .888 save percentage in 50 appearances this season. Luukkonen's primary value in fantasy rests in his heavy usage for Buffalo, as he has appeared in all but five games since the calendar flipped to 2025. While he has struggled over the course of this year, Luukkonen has won three of his last four starts and is trending in the right direction. His next opportunity to take the ice is Thursday against Utah.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Starting in Boston
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Luukkonen will tend the road twine Monday against the Bruins, per Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
After losing four straight games, Luukkonen has won two of his last three. Those two victories account for all of his wins in March -- he's 2-5-0 with an .854 save percentage and a 4.19 GAA across seven outings this month. Luukkonen has a favorable matchup against a Boston squad that has dropped five of its last seven contests and sits 25th in the NHL with 2.71 goals per game this season. The Finnish netminder has a 3-4-1 record, .892 save percentage and 3.96 GAA over nine career outings against the Bruins.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Back in win column
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Luukkonen stopped 32 shots in Monday's 3-2 win over the Oilers.
He was the busier goaltender on the night, but Luukkonen stood tall to secure his first win since Feb. 25 and snap a four-start losing streak. The 26-year-old has been inconsistent since the 4 Nations Face-Off break, going 3-4-0 over his last eight outings with a 3.57 GAA and an .877 save percentage.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Drawing home start
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Luukkonen will tend the home twine Monday versus the Oilers, per Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
Luukkonen has lost four consecutive games while posting an .853 save percentage and a 4.40 GAA in that span. It won't get any easier Monday against an Oilers club that sits ninth in the NHL with 3.25 goals per game this season and has won three of its last four contests. Luukkonen is 1-1-0 and has conceded 10 goals on 71 shots over two career outings against Edmonton.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Starting in Florida
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Luukkonen will guard the visiting net in Florida on Saturday, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.
Luukkonen has lost three straight games, allowing 14 goals on 81 shots in losses to Montreal, San Jose and Tampa Bay. Luukkonen is 20-19-4 with a pair of shutouts, a 3.14 GAA and an .890 save percentage across 45 appearances this season. The Panthers are averaging 3.25 goals per game in 2024-25, eighth in the NHL.
