Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen might have a busy stretch of work coming up. ©2024, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – The goal outburst that helped the Sabres end their 13-game winless skid overshadowed goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s stellar performance heading into the Christmas break.
Luukkonen, 25, quietly enjoyed one of his strongest outings this season in Monday’s 7-1 road win against the New York Islanders, stopping 27 shots and allowing one goal or less for just the fifth time in 24 games.
If the Sabres make an unlikely climb up the standings – they begin Friday’s home game against teenage star Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks 10 points out of the second wild card spot – Luukkonen will almost certainly be at the forefront.
At his best, the Finn is their backbone and MVP.
The Sabres’ woes extend to Luukkonen, who hasn’t consistently showcased the dynamic form that made him one of the NHL’s elite netminders throughout the second half of last season.
Of course, a strong argument can be made he is simply a victim of his team’s struggles and a wonky defense. Whatever the case, he hasn’t recaptured what made him so effective down the stretch a year ago.
Luukkonen has compiled a 9-11-3 record with a 3.03 goals-against average, an .895 save percentage and one shutout this season. Those numbers are well below last season’s gaudy ones and the current league average.
From Dec. 30 until the end of the last season, he registered a 21-14-2 mark with a 2.30 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and four shutouts in 37 games.
Right now, the league’s average save percentage is .900, down from .903 last season.
“Of course, .900’s something you want to be above,” Luukkonen said last week of his save percentage. “It doesn’t matter how much the game has changed.”
During the Sabres’ 13-game run of futility, Luukkonen took it on the chin, compiling a 0-7-2 mark with a 4.10 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage in nine contests.
His inability to stop high-danger scoring chances at the same frequency he did last season has hurt him. After recording an .830 save percentage in such chances last year, one of the league’s best numbers, he has dipped to .758, according to NHL Edge.
He has faced 6.8 high-danger chances per game this season, down from 7.3.
While Luukkonen’s campaign hasn’t matched the standard he set, he has still had terrific stretches, including one in which he won eight of his 11 starts.
He has entrenched himself as the Sabres’ starter, so expect coach Lindy Ruff to utilize him every chance he can.
The Sabres don’t have back-to-back games until Jan. 20 and 21, so the 6-foot-5, 223-pound Luukkonen could conceivably start the next 11 contests.
If he replicates what he did last season, perhaps the Sabres can roar back into the playoff chase.
The Sabres have six prospects participating in this year’s World Junior Championship: center Konsta Helenius (Finland), forward Anton Wahlberg (Sweden), defenseman Adam Kleber (USA), forward Brodie Ziemer (USA), defenseman Max Strbak (Slovakia) and defenseman Norwin Panocha (Germany).
The tournament began Thursday in Ottawa.
Bedard, 19, has scored nine goals and 30 points in 35 games this season.
The slick center, the first overall pick in 2023, did not play in Buffalo as a rookie last season because he was recovering from a broken jaw.
