Luukkonen stopped 21 shots in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Red Wings.
Both pucks that beat Luukkonen came on Detroit power plays, with Dylan Larkin sniping both in the second period, and the Buffalo offense couldn't find a response. Luukkonen has started five of the Sabres' last six games as he settles into the No. 1 role, going 3-2-0 with a 2.84 GAA and .904 save percentage over that stretch.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Rough night against Florida
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Luukkonen stopped 26 shots in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Panthers.
Two of the goals came on Florida power plays, but the Buffalo defense was overwhelmed, giving Luukkonen little help. It's his first regulation loss over his last five starts, but on the season the 25-year-old is 3-3-1 with a 3.31 GAA and an .890 save percentage, numbers that represent a significant step back from Luukkonen's performance in 2023-24.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Rings up third straight win
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Luukkonen made 22 saves in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Red Wings.
It looked like Luukkonen might be in for an easy afternoon when Buffalo grabbed a 3-1 lead early in the second period, but Detroit tied it up midway through the frame. The 25-year-old stood tall the rest of the way, however. After going 0-2-1 through his first three starts of the season, Luukkonen has now won three straight, giving up seven goals on 92 shots during that streak.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Hangs on for second straight win
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Luukkonen stopped 28 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Stars.
The 25-year-old took a shutout into the third period, but Dallas made things interesting late in the frame before an Alex Tuch empty-netter put the game away. Luukkonen has won back-to-back starts, but through five outings he sports just a 2-2-1 record with a 3.01 GAA and .903 save percentage.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Slated to start Tuesday
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Luukkonen is set to guard the home goal against Dallas on Tuesday, per Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald.
Luukkonen is 1-2-1 with a 3.26 GAA and an .895 save percentage through four starts in 2024-25. While those aren't impressive numbers, he did turn aside 35 of 37 shots to earn a 4-2 victory over Chicago on Saturday. Dallas is 5-1-0 this season, though the offense has left something to be desired and is tied for 21st with 2.83 goals per game.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Can't hold lead in OT loss
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Luukkonen made 37 saves in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Penguins.
The Sabres held a 3-1 lead after the first period, but Luukkonen saw it slip through his fingers on a night when both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin turned back the clock en route to some big personal milestones. After a breakout 2023-24 campaign, Luukkonen has stumbled out of the gate this season, going 0-2-1 with a 3.69 GAA and .874 save percentage in three starts.
Luukkonen is expected to start on the road against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Luukkonen lost his first two starts of the 2024-25 campaign while stopping 39 of 44 shots (.886 save percentage). Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has gotten off to a solid start offensively, tying for 10th with 3.50 goals per game. With Luukkonen starting Wednesday, Devon Levi might get the nod for Thursday's road game versus Columbus.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Win slips away late
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Luukkonen stopped 20 of 22 shots in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Kings, with Los Angeles' final goal getting scored into an empty net.
The 25-year-old netminder took a shutout into the third period, but Anze Kopitar snapped a shot top shelf on Luukkonen just 13 seconds into the final frame, en route to a natural hat trick that decided the game. The Sabres' offense has been asleep to begin the season -- they've scored only one goal in each of their first three games, and Thursday's tally came on a shorthanded breakaway by Alex Tuch -- so Luukkonen has had no margin for error, leaving him with an 0-2 record despite a respectable 2.56 GAA.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: In goal against New Jersey
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Luukkonen will be between the pipes for Friday's Global Series matchup with New Jersey, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
Luukkonen will begin his quest to reach the 30-win mark this season with Friday's matchup. The 25-year-old netminder came up just three victories shy of that threshold last year, finishing the campaign with a 27-22-4 record to go with a career-best 2.57 GAA and five shutouts. With Luukkonen getting the nod Friday, it will be either Devon Levi or James Reimer in the crease versus the Devils on Saturday.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Starting Saturday
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Luukkonen will get the home start versus Pittsburgh on Saturday, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.
Luukkonen enters the 2024-25 campaign as Buffalo's undisputed No. 1 goaltender. He was 27-22-4 with a sparkling 2.57 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 54 regular-season appearances in 2023-24. The Sabres will need a similar performance this campaign if they hope to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 season. James Reimer will be the backup goaltender in Saturday's exhibition contest.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Solid in win over Caps
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Luukkonen made 22 saves in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Capitals.
The Sabres got eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday, but Luukkonen didn't let his focus waver. The 25-year-old netminder has allowed three goals or less in six straight starts, and he continues to add to his career-high 27 wins while sporting a 2.56 GAA and .910 save percentage on the season.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Gets nod Thursday
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Luukkonen will guard the home goal against the Capitals on Thursday, per Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.
Luukkonen was decent in his last start, stopping 22 of 25 shots in a 3-2 loss against Dallas on Tuesday. Overall, the 25-year-old has played very well this season, recording a .910 save percentage and a 26-22-3 record in 52 appearances. He will have a favorable matchup against the Capitals, who rank 29th in goals per game at 2.64.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Falls to Dallas
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Luukkonen allowed three goals on 25 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Stars on Tuesday.
It's the second straight loss for Luukkonen -- he's allowed six goals on 49 shots in that span. Overall, the 25-year-old netminder is 26-22-3 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.58 GAA on the season. Luukkonen figures to be back between the pipes Thursday when the Sabres host Washington.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Set to start Tuesday
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Luukkonen will protect the road goal versus the Stars on Tuesday.
Luukkonen was involved in a collision with teammate Rasmus Dahlin early in warmups, but it appears no harm was done. Luukkonen has allowed 23 goals over his last seven contests, and it's unlikely to be easier for him against a Stars team that leads the Western Conference.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Concedes three goals in loss
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Luukkonen allowed three goals on 24 shots in a 3-1 defeat to Detroit on Sunday.
Luukkonen has been absolutely grinding for the Sabres this season, playing in 32 of the club's last 37 contests. During that stretch, the netminder went 18-13-1 with a 2.32 GAA and .917 save percentage. Still, once Buffalo is officially eliminated from the postseason, the team could decide to utilize Eric Comrie more or bring Devon Levi up from the minors.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Starting in Detroit
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Luukkonen will defend the road net Sunday against the Red Wings, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.
Luukkonen has emerged victorious in each of his past two outings, stopping 56 of 60 shots during that span. In 50 appearances this campaign, he has a 26-20-3 record with a 2.55 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Detroit ranks ninth in the league with 3.32 goals per contest this season.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Big win over Philly
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Luukkonen stopped 32 shots in Friday's 4-2 win over the Flyers.
Luukkonen was by far the busier netminder, as Philadelphia outshot Buffalo by a 34-19 margin. He came up big once again for a Sabres squad that refuses to fade out of the playoff picture. Luukkonen has gone 8-5-1 since the beginning of March with a 2.81 GAA and .903 save percentage but may need to heat up again to get Buffalo across the finish line -- the team is now only four points back of Philly for the final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference. Washington, Detroit and Pittsburgh remain in the mix as well.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Draws start
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Luukkonen will be stationed between the pipes for Friday's home tilt with the Flyers, Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report reports.
Luukkonen stopped 24 of 26 shots in a win over the Capitals on Tuesday. The 25-year-old is now 25-20-3 with a 2.57 GAA and a .910 save percentage through 49 appearances. In 25 home games, he's registered a terrific 2.26 GAA. Luukkonen will attempt to secure his first set of back-to-back wins since March 12 and 14 on Friday.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Collects win No. 25
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Luukkonen made 23 saves in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Capitals.
The game was close until the third period when Buffalo erupted for three goals in the first six minutes of the frame to make things easier on Luukkonen. The 25-year-old netminder has cooled down in recent weeks, going 7-5-1 since the beginning of March with a 2.88 GAA and .899 save percentage, but Tuesday's win was his 25th of the season and he has a firm hold on the top job in the crease as the Sabres try to put together a miracle finish to the season and sneak into the playoffs.
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Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Set to face Capitals
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Luukkonen was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Katelyn Kardaman of the Sabres' official site reports, indicating he will patrol the home crease Tuesday versus Washington.
Luukkonen is coming off a 19-save effort in Saturday's 3-0 loss to Toronto. In 48 appearances this campaign, he has supplied a 24-20-3 record with a 2.58 GAA and a .910 save percentage. The Capitals sit 27th in the league this season with 2.70 goals per contest.
