Sabres’ Owen Power feeling ‘pretty good’ after injury

BUFFALO – Almost halfway through the third period in Game 5, Sabres defenseman Owen Power slid into the end boards as he and Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Tessier raced to grab a loose puck.

After getting up, Power hobbled down the tunnel before returning to the bench. During breaks in the action, he tested the injury.

He felt well enough to return for two shifts in the final six minutes of Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Canadiens, playing 1 minute, 28 seconds.

What’s Power’s status for the Sabres’ do-or-die Game 6 on Saturday in Montreal?

“All I can offer is he said he’s feeling pretty good, better than he thought he’d feel,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said this morning in KeyBank Center.

Power has stood out throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, morphing into the Sabres’ best defender while compiling five assists in 11 games.

The Sabres, who trail the best-of-seven second-round series, did not practice today before their flight to Montreal.

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Sabres goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon have shared time throughout the season, often forming a dynamic tandem.

Which netminder will Ruff utilize tonight after yanking Luukkonen in Game 5?

Luukkonen took over for Lyon on Tuesday following back-to-back losses. Lyon replaced the Finn in Game 2 of the opening round and established himself as one of the top goalies in the playoffs.

Counting Thursday’s relief appearance – he stopped two of the three shots he faced – Lyon has compiled a 4-3 record with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in nine games.

Meanwhile, Luukkonen, who starred in Game 4, has registered a 2-2 mark with a 4.20 goals-against average and an .851 save percentage in four outings.

Ruff the coaches meet as a staff to discuss the starting goalie.

“Sometimes other factors can be involved, with maybe one goalie’s fatigued, maybe one goalie’s got a little something going on,” he said. “All those things come into consideration when you’re going to your starting goaltender.”