Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was red-hot, got sick and left the lineup. Devon Levi got sent to Rochester, came back and got red-hot as well.
Now Luukkonen is healthy and ready to reclaim the Buffalo Sabres’ goal crease Wednesday night in Colorado. Goaltending was supposed to be a real problem for the Sabres this season, not a good one. Their two young guys are turning it into that.
Captain Kyle Okposo and newcomer Eric Robinson easily earned their wings around center Peyton Krebs, with Okposo and Robinson collecting three points apiece in a solid 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes in KeyBank Center.
Luukkonen had a four-game stretch in November that included a relief outing where he went 3-0 with a 1.48 goals-against average and .949 save percentage. Meanwhile, Levi just went 2-0-1, 1.62/.942 in his three games since coming back from Rochester.
Luukkonen said he lost some weight but has regained 100% of his energy. He was taking reps in one net by himself at practice Tuesday while Levi and Eric Comrie shared the other, a sign that Luukkonen will start when the Sabres open a three-game Western road trip.
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“Now we’re going to read the situation,” said head coach Don Granato. “But that being said, it’s nice that Devon played three really good games. And it’s nice that ‘Upie’ has progressed where he’s at. (Luukkonen) has played very well progressively through the year. It’ll be nice to have him.”
While Granato mentioned Comrie’s name, it’s clear he’s become the No. 3 goalie with some tough outings since he returned from a lower-body injury. Comrie won’t see the crease any time soon unless there’s another illness or injury among Luukkonen or Levi.
Former Buffalo Sabres enforcer Rob Ray showed his mettle Monday night when he was bloodied between the eyes when he was struck with a puck from his rinkside broadcast position during the third period of the Sabres-Arizona Coyotes game.
Luukkonen (2-1, 2.34/.928 vs. Colorado in his career) made 39 saves in a 4-2 win over the Avalanche last year in Denver. He posted his first NHL shutout with a 23-save showing in a 4-0 win over them Oct. 29 in KeyBank Center.
“We are really ready every time we play them from the start,” Luukkonen said. “We know how good of a team they are. So be ready and I think that has showed in my starts at least. It’s not only me, it’s the whole team.”
“Upie has been great,” said defenseman Erik Johnson. “He really took charge and it was his net. It still is. ... Credit to Devon too. He had a great attitude going down to Rochester and had a couple of good games there. He’s still a young goalie and not many goalies just step into the league and make an impact at that time. So he’s got a lot of room to grow, but he’s really played well.”
Luukkonen said he was thrilled watching the Sabres lift their play the last three games to levels of consistency they have not found this season. And Levi has been a backbone in net.
“It’s unreal. He’s a great, great guy. Great goalie,” Luukkonen said. “I’ve been through it. I know what it’s like and it’s not always easy to get sent down. But I think he handled that well, even though it was only two games.”
Johnson makes his return
The game will mark Johnson’s return to Denver after playing for the Avalanche since 2011. He endured the 48-point season of 2015-16 and reached the pinnacle with the Avs’ Stanley Cup win in 2022. The Avs will likely give him a video greeting during an early timeout and Johnson, who said he would be sleeping in his house Tuesday night, said he’s been looking forward to this game all season.
“A lot of great memories, great friends, awesome fan base and a great city that’s now home for me when I’m done playing,” he said. “Ultimately, I spent almost a decade and a half there, so quite a big chunk of my life. It will be sweet to go back there. We built that thing from the bottom all the way to the top. So it will be extra special to be there with all my old teammates and the fans.”
“Eric is a enormous addition for us in so many ways. But the biggest is the love for him the teammates have,” Granato said. “He’s a guy that has got an entourage for a very good reason. He’s a wealth of experience and amazingly good guy to be around. So I know that the team will be happy to see whatever they may put up for him.”
Around the boards
- Tage Thompson and Kyle Okposo took maintenance days from practice but are expected to play Wednesday. Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) also did not skate but will make the trip and is day to day.
- Jiri Kulich has been named to Team Czechia for the upcoming World Junior Championships in Sweden, which would be his third appearance in the tournament if the Sabres opt to send him. Kulich has 13 goals and 19 points in 19 games for Rochester.
- The Avalanche got out of a 1-3-2 rut with Monday’s 6-5 win over Calgary, a game that saw them score three goals in the final 9:40 of play to wipe out a 5-3 deficit.
- Buffalo native and St. Joe’s product Dennis Gilbert played a career high 20:26 on defense for the Flames, collecting two assists for his second career multi-point game. The other was Feb. 11 in KeyBank Center. Gilbert added season highs in hits and blocks Monday with four apiece.