BUFFALO – Following a one-game rest, the Sabres could turn to goalie James Reimer again tonight, awarding him his seventh start in the last nine contests.
After serving as a backup all season, Reimer, 37, has morphed into the NHL’s hottest netminder, winning six straight starts while compiling a 2.80 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.
If he plays tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes at KeyBank Center, Reimer can set a career-best win streak. The 15-year veteran also won six consecutive games from Feb. 7 to March 6, 2013 as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the first of his seven NHL teams.
Or perhaps the Sabres, who have won four straight games, will give goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen his second consecutive nod to help him recapture his old form. The Finn made 17 saves in Sunday’s 6-3 victory over the Boston Bruins, registering his first win since March 17.
With the game at tied at 3 in the third period, he stopped Vinni Lettieri as he zoomed in alone. Sabres winger Jason Zucker scored the go-ahead goal 35 seconds later.
After letting Luukkonen play through his struggles for a while, the Sabres began riding Reimer when he emerged as the hot hand.
The Sabres, who are on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, sorely want to finish on a high note. If that means benching the No. 1 goalie they signed to a five-year contract during the offseason and utilizing a journeyman, so be it.
Still, who saw this coming? Remember, prior to his splendid 33-save effort March 23 in a 5-3 road win over the Winnipeg Jets, Reimer had mustered just two victories all season while occasionally spelling Luukkonen.
“Nothing surprises me anymore,” Reimer said of his recent playing time after making 22 stops in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. “Been in this league for a long time, and just when you think you’ve seen it all, then something surprises you again. So no. Honestly, as an athlete, as a competitor, you love to play, and you love to fulfill your role.
“When my role was coming in here and supporting the guys and supporting (Luukkonen) and trying to mentor guys and be leadership in here, you do the best you can in that role. And then, if they tap you, when they tap you to play games, you go out there and you give it a full show, give it your all.”
Reimer, who signed a one-year, $1 million contact as a free agent July 1, has experienced an interesting campaign. He accompanied the Sabres on their season-opening trip to Czechia, serving as their third goalie before being waived Oct. 6.
The Anaheim Ducks, in need of a goalie with John Gibson injured, claimed him. He made just two appearances for the Ducks.
When Gibson recovered, Buffalo reclaimed Reimer on Nov. 13, and he settled into his backup role, allowing the Sabres to send goalie Devon Levi to the minors.
“Honestly, I’m just trying to enjoy the moment,” Reimer said of unique year. “I try and approach this game with a lot of gratitude.”
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Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund, 21, impressed coach Lindy Ruff in his first two NHL appearances over the weekend.
Ostlund, who has been centering Beck Malenstyn and Sam Lafferty on the fourth line, quickly displayed some of the nifty passing and hockey smarts that make him a coveted prospect.
“I thought they were really, on a whole, the best line when it came to generating positive energy, getting the pucks in, creating opportunities,” Ruff said following Sunday’s game. “They kind of set the tone for us and got us some traction, even in the first period with a couple of shifts.
“I thought Lafferty had one of his best nights, just getting on the puck. And Mal really skated well, was in on checks, and Ostlund, when he’s defending, he hasn’t really made a mistake yet. His reads have been good, he’s been good at being that second guy on the puck in our own zone and he’s broke the puck out well.”