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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen News
Luukkonen led the Sabres onto the ice for warmups.

Luukkonen has not played since Dec. 3rd due to an illness but was back in the starter's crease Wednesday at Buffalo's morning skate. The 24-year-old has taken over the starting job for the Sabres due to his strong 6-5-1 start to go along with his 2.81 GAA and .907 SV%. He will head to Colorado to take on the Avalanche, who won their last game in a thrilling 6-5 victory and are fourth in the NHL in goals peer game (3.54).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was in the starter's crease at Buffalo's morning skate.

Luukkonen has not played since Dec. 3rd due to an illness but was back in the starter's crease Wednesday at Buffalo's morning skate. The 24-year-old has taken over the starting job for the Sabres due to his strong 6-5-1 start to go along with his 2.81 GAA and .907 SV%. He will head to Colorado to take on the Avalanche, who won their last game in a thrilling 6-5 victory and are fourth in the NHL in goals peer game (3.54).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (illness) will not travel with the team on their upcoming road trip to Boston.

Luukkonen was unavailable Tuesday due to an illness and will not travel with the Sabres' on their upcoming road trip to Boston. The 24-year-old has steady enough this season to take over the Sabres' starting role due to his 6-5-1 record, .907 SV% and 2.81 GAA. Devon Levi was recalled from Rochester (AHL) Tuesday in a corresponding move and should fill in for Luukkonen for the time being.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (illness) is not at morning skate and will be a game-time decision vs. Detroit.

The Sabres have recalled Devon Levi, likely to serve as backup to Eric Comrie, while Luukkonen is unable to suit up due to an illness. Luukkonen has unquestionably been the most dynamic and consistent of the three Sabres goaltenders this season, with seven quality starts through 11 games (.636 QS %). Expect Luukkonen to regain command of the starters as soon as he recovers.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Luukkonen will start Sunday's game against the Predators.

Luukkonen will get the nod on Sunday after Eric Comrie got the start in Saturday's 6-2 defeat in Carolina. Luukkonen struggled his last time out, surrendering six goals on just 20 shots in a 6-4 loss at the hands of the Blues. The 24-year-old netminder has posted a .905 SV% and a 2.88 GAA to go along with his 6-4-1 record on the season.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is in the starter's crease at Thursday's morning skate.

Luukkonen has been a bright spot in an inconsistent season for the Sabres, as he will likely start for the second consecutive game on Thursday. With Devon Levi being sent down to the AHL, Luukkonen appears to be the favourite in the Sabres' goaltending tandem with him and Eric Comrie. Luukkonen is riding a three-game winning streak and has a sensational .942 SV% in his past five appearances (3-1-0). That said, the Sabres are still +112 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, who rank in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.86 GF / GP).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start Monday at the New York Rangers.

After not playing a single game for the Sabres in their first two weeks of the season, Luukkonen has become their most reliable option between the pipes. In his last eight appearances (4-2-1), Luukkonen has a sparkling .923 SV% and one shutout. The Sabres rank in the bottom half of the league defensively, allowing an average of 3.33 goals per game, a stark contrast to Luukkonen's impressive 2.71 GAA. That said, Luukkonen and the Sabres will have their work cut out for them as +188 road underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won three straight, outscoring their opposition 11-5.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is in the starter's crease at Monday's morning skate.

After not playing a single game for the Sabres in their first two weeks of the season, Luukkonen has become their most reliable option between the pipes. In his last eight appearances (4-2-1), Luukkonen has a sparkling .923 SV% and one shutout. The Sabres rank in the bottom half of the league defensively, allowing an average of 3.33 goals per game, a stark contrast to Luukkonen's impressive 2.71 GAA. That said, Luukkonen and the Sabres will have their work cut out for them as +188 road underdogs against a New York Rangers team that has won three straight, outscoring their opposition 11-5.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start Friday vs. Pittsburgh.

Luukkonen has played well in his last three appearances (1-1-0), saving 74 of 79 shots (.937 SV%), and will be rewarded with a start on Friday. Luukkonen has easily been the most consistent of three Sabres' netminders this season, posting a 2.80 GAA and .911 SV% through nine contests (4-3-1). The Sabres are +111 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team without Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust and is coming off a 1-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday. In addition, Luukkonen played admirably against the Penguins on November 11th despite a 4-0 loss, saving 36 of 39 shots (.923 SV%).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was in the starter's net at Friday's morning skate.

Luukkonen has played well in his last three appearances (1-1-0), saving 74 of 79 shots (.937 SV%), and will likely be rewarded with a start on Friday. Luukkonen has easily been the most consistent of three Sabres' netminders this season, posting a 2.80 GAA and .911 SV% through nine contests (4-3-1). The Sabres are +111 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team without Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust and is coming off a 1-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday. In addition, Luukkonen played admirably against the Penguins on November 11th despite a 4-0 loss, saving 36 of 39 shots (.923 SV%).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Luukkonen will start in Carolina on Tuesday.

Luukkonen served as the backup on Saturday to allow Devon Levi to return to the crease but will be the Sabres' starter on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In his most recent game, Luukkonen surrendered five goals on 19 shots in a lopsided 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. Before that, Luukkonen was in the midst of a four-game stretch (3-1-0) where he saved 113 of 122 shots (.926 SV%). The Sabres will hope that Luukkonen can re-channel that early-season form as they are heavy +200 road underdogs on Tuesday.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is in the starter's net at Tuesday's morning skate.

Luukkonen served as the backup on Saturday to allow Devon Levi to return to the crease but appears to be the Sabres' starter on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. In his most recent game, Luukkonen surrendered five goals on 19 shots in a lopsided 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers. Before that, Luukkonen was in the midst of a four-game stretch (3-1-0) where he saved 113 of 122 shots (.926 SV%). The Sabres will hope that Luukkonen can re-channel that early-season form as they are heavy +200 road underdogs on Tuesday.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start Friday vs. Philadelphia.

Luukkonen will be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was in the starter's crease at Friday's morning skate.

Luukkonen appears to be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will start vs. Philadelphia.

Devon Levi has officially returned to the Sabres' lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury but will serve as the backup, at least for his first game, to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen didn't get his chance to be the number-one goaltender in Buffalo until Eric Comrie (lower-body) also went down with an injury but has filled in admirably after being called upon. Coming off his best performance thus far, a 23-save shutout victory over the Colorado Avalanche, Luukkonen has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in three games this season (2-1-0). The Sabres are slight +101 road underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has done a decent job finding the back of the net, averaging 3.33 goals per game so far this season (4-4-1).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Luukkonen will start Sunday vs. Colorado.

With Eric Comrie and Devon Levi both still unavailable due to lower-body injuries, the Sabres will turn to Luukkonen on Sunday. Luukkonen stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced in relief of Comrie in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils. The 24-year-old netminder will need to string together some stronger performances if he wants to continue challenging for starts following the returns of Levi and Comrie. Luukkonen owns an .881 SV% and a 4.78 GAA through two appearances this season.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen