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Buffalo Sabres News
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
Jacob Bryson will be a healthy scratch Friday vs. Philadelphia.

Bryson will sit in the press box as a healthy scratch on Friday to make room for Connor Clifton, who will return to the Sabres lineup after serving a two-game suspension. During those two games, Bryson registered a -1 plus/minus, four blocks, and two hits while averaging 10:56 time-on-ice.

Jacob Bryson
Connor Clifton will return from a two-game suspension Friday vs. Philadelphia.

Clifton was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of Nico Hiscier on October 27th. Clifton skated alongside Erik Johnson on the third pair in Thursday's practice, which is where he will likely suit up when he returns to the lineup on Friday vs. the Flyers. Prior to the suspension, Clifton had one assist, a minus-6 rating, 12 SOG and 23 hits in eight games.

Connor Clifton
Alex Tuch (maintenance) is good to go Friday vs. Philadelphia after missing Thursday's practice.

Tuch will play on Friday after not participating in practice on Thursday. In 10 games, Tuch has seven points (1G / 6A) while averaging 18:06 time-on-ice, over a full minute less than his average ice time during the 2022-23 season.

Alex Tuch
Lukas Rousek is expected to make his Sabres' debut Friday vs. Philadelphia.

With Zach Benson (lower-body) being placed on the injured reserve and Tyson Jost being a healthy scratch on Friday, Rousek is expected to make his season debut. In eight games with the Rochester Americans (AHL) this season, Rousek has six points (2G / 4A).

Lukas Rousek
Zach Benson (lower body) has been placed on the injured reserve retroactive to October 29th.

Benson has missed five of the last seven games with a lower-body injury and has been placed on the injured reserve, retroactive to October 29th. The rookie has two points (0G / 2A) along with six shots on goal while averaging 13:17 time-on-ice through six games.

Zach Benson
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
Clifton served his two-game suspension and is eligible to return to the Sabres' lineup on Friday.

Clifton was suspended for two games for an illegal check to the head of Nico Hiscier on October 27th. Clifton skated alongside Erik Johnson on the third pair in Thursday's practice, indicating that he'll be back in the lineup on Friday vs. the Flyers. Prior to the suspension, Clifton had one assist, a minus-6 rating, 12 SOG and 23 hits in eight games.

Connor Clifton
Alex Tuch (undisclosed) missed practice Wednesday due to maintenance.

Tuch did not participate in the Sabres' skate Thursday after missing practice due to maintenance and is a game-time decision Friday vs. Philadelphia after Lukas Rousek was recalled from Rochester (AHL). The 27-year-old right-winger has a goal, six assists, 20 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 10 games this season.

Alex Tuch
Lukas Rousek has been recalled from Rochester (AHL).

Rousek started off the season hot in Rochester (AHL) and has earned himself a call-up to Buffalo Thursday after putting up two goals, four assists, four PIMs, and a -3 plus/minus in eight games. The 24-year-old made his NHL debut in 2022-23, appearing in two games and scoring a goal and an assist. Alex Tuch missed Thursday's team practice due to maintenance so if he is unable to go, Rousek should be expected to take his spot in the Sabres' lineup.

Lukas Rousek
Byram (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play Wednesday vs. the Blues.

Byram was listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday's game but will suit up for his ninth game of the season. Byram enters the evening with one goal and one assist (two points) while firing 11 shots on goal and averaging 18:39 TOI/gm.

Bowen Byram
James Reimer will start Thursday vs. Florida.

Reimer has been terrific in limited action this season, posting a 1.68 GAA and .939 SV% in three games (2-1-0) and will get the nod in between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Reimer has never finished a season with a sub-2.31 GAA so this is unfamiliar territory for the veteran netminder and is likely unsustainable going forward. The Red Wings are +106 home underdogs against a Panthers team that is 4-3-1 to start the season.

James Reimer
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