BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start again tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, his third straight nod and fifth in the last seven games.
In the near future, expect the Finn, who has played every game since Alex Lyon suffered a lower-body injury, to earn a breather and take a backseat to Colten Ellis.
The Sabres play a road game Thursday against the New York Rangers before kicking off a five-game home stand Saturday versus the Anaheim Ducks.
Tonight’s contest kicks off a stretch of 17 games in 31 days before the Olympic break begins.
“You look at the schedule, and we need both goalies,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center. “So we’re not going to overplay anybody, we’re going to use both guys. In the meantime, we’ll get Lyon ready, too.”
Ellis hasn’t played since suffering a concussion Dec. 9 in Edmonton. He began backing up Luukkonen last Wednesday in Dallas.
The rookie has played well for the Sabres at times this season, compiling a 4-3-0 record with a 3.25 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage in eight games.