Luukkonen - Buffalo Hockey Beat

As UPL finds game, Sabres goalie Alex Lyon makes strong case for more starts

BUFFALO – Following one game serving as Alex Lyon’s backup, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen said he will play again tonight against the St. Louis Blues, his second nod in the last three games but just his third this season.

As the Finn, 26, recently recovered from two lower-body injuries, Lyon, 32, emerged as the Sabres’ workhorse and early-season MVP.

Now, Luukkonen, fresh off Saturday’s stellar 31-save outing in which he stopped all five shootout attempts ... Read the full article

Sabres Josh Norris skating again; Tyson Kozak close to returning from injury

BUFFALO – Sabres center Josh Norris, who suffered an upper-body injury opening night, is progressing and has started skating again, coach Lindy Ruff said.

“I’ve talked to him, he said he’s feeling better,” Ruff said following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “He’s not in that feeling great category yet, but he’s feeling better. And (we) really just want to keep progressing him with no setbacks.”

Ruff said has he no timetable for Norris’ return. He ... Read the full article

JJ Peterka won’t say if he wanted to be traded from Sabres: ‘Focus is on Utah’

BUFFALO – Utah Mammoth winger JJ Peterka wanted no part of the questions and revisiting that part of his past here.

Before the Sabres traded him on June 26, did he request to be dealt? Did he want out of Buffalo?

“I met so many great people in the organization,” Peterka replied prior to Tuesday’s game, his first at KeyBank Center as a visitor. “I made so many good friends. But, yeah, I think ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stars in Sabres’ shootout win; Isak Rosen scores first NHL goal

BUFFALO – Two days before Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s splendid 33-save outing in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout win, coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged the Finn, having recently missed so much time, likely wasn’t ready to be a big difference-maker.

Luukkonen, who on Saturday made just his second NHL start this season and first in a week, has spent most of the last two months battling two lower-body injuries.

In his absence, veteran Alex Lyon quickly emerged as ... Read the full article

With Zach Benson injured, Isak Rosen earns another chance with Sabres

BUFFALO – After the Sabres assigned wing prospect Isak Rosen to the Rochester Americans, he immediately began a three-week offensive tear, scoring two times opening night and registering five goals and 12 points in his first eight outings.

Fresh off a disappointing training camp with the Sabres, the Swede, 22, quickly established himself as one of the AHL’s elite scorers early in his fourth season.

When winger Zach Benson suffered a lower-body injury – coach ... Read the full article

After odd few weeks, Sabres begin new month in solid spot; Buffalo could turn to different goalie

BUFFALO – The Sabres will wake up ahead of tonight’s home game against the Washington Capitals in seventh place in the stacked Atlantic Division but just two points out of third.

Despite finishing October with 11 points, the division’s lowest total – the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs have the same number – the Sabres begin November in a solid spot following an odd few weeks.

They stumbled out ... Read the full article

Sabres goalies Colten Ellis, Alex Lyon and UPL all battling for starts

BUFFALO – After just one game, carrying an extra goalie paid off for the Sabres.

On Saturday morning, rookie Colten Ellis, who had traveled to Toronto ahead of his teammates to be ready for his scheduled start, woke up with a stiff back.

Ellis, 25, tested the injury before the Sabres decided he couldn’t play against the Maple Leafs.

No problem. They still had goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 26, and Alex Lyon, 32, on their roster. ... Read the full article

Sabres put up fight, lose to Maple Leafs in OT; UPL replaces injured Colten Ellis

TORONTO – Put Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs in the acceptable category for the Buffalo Sabres.

Sure, some sting accompanies the overtime setback. They held a late third-period lead. They fell seconds after nearly winning it at the other end.

But the Sabres, fresh off Friday’s 5-3 home win against the Maple Leafs, took three of four points from their closest rival. They’re 4-1-1 in their last six outings.... Read the full article

After UPL’s recall, Sabres plan to keep three goalies: ‘A good problem’

BUFFALO – Right now, the Sabres want to err on the side of caution. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, having completed his AHL conditioning assignment, is healthy and ready to play.

But given Luukkonen’s injury history – he has already gone down twice this season – the Sabres must be careful. They plan to keep three goalies.

For the time being at least, the Sabres have Luukkonen, veteran Alex Lyon and rookie Colten Ellis, who ... Read the full article

Sabres recall Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from conditioning assignment

The Buffalo Sabres on Thursday recalled Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from his AHL conditioning assignment with the Rochester Americans, giving them three goalies.

Luukkonen stopped 21 shots in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Syracuse Crunch, his first outing since suffering a lower-body injury Oct. 1 and exiting an exhibition game after one period.

The Finn, who was expected to be the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie, also missed the first week of training camp after tweaking a different ... Read the full article