The Buffalo Sabres will be without one of their goaltenders for at least a week. News emerged on Thursday that goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will be out for at least a week with a lower-body injury. This news was disclosed to the media by Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff.
Sabres’ Luukkonen to miss next week with lower-body injury
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Buffalo Sabres Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Out For a Week At Least
The Finnish goalie left in the first period of Buffalo’s 7-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Luukkonen departed after Auston Matthews scored and he was replaced by Colten Ellis. Buffalo weathered the storm and continued its red-hot January.
Luukkonen has only played for the Sabres across his six-year NHL career. The 26-year-old has 11-7-2 record with a .903 save percentage and 2.73 goals-against average. He did miss some time earlier in the season with an unrelated injury. However, he’s recorded a .916 save percentage in 12 games since December 21.
The Espoo, Finland native has a career record of 82-72-17 with seven shutouts during his tenure. Luukkonen has a 3.02 GAA and .898 save percentage as well. Buffalo originally drafted him in the second round, 54th overall of the 2017 NHL Draft.
He’s also been selected to Team Finland’s roster for the upcoming Milano Cortina games. Finnish management is hoping for good news when he reevaluated in a week’s time.
What It Means
Luukkonen has playing some of the best hockey of his career. He and Alex Lyon have teamed up to give the Sabres a fighting chance of ending their painfully long Stanley Cup Playoff drought.
Ellis can also fill in like he did against the Maple Leafs. If things get desperate, Buffalo could also call up Devon Levi, who is playing very well in AHL Rochester.
The Sabres are six points above the postseason cut line and sit in third in the Atlantic Division as of Thursday’s games. Buffalo hockey fans are hoping Luukkonen will be back sooner rather than later.
Main photo by: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images