'“For him to keep them off the scoreboard until we could get our legs under us and find our rhythm was everything,” Sabres coach Don Granato said after his players’ best performance of the season. “You don’t want to give that team confidence, and he denied that with some early action against him.”' … [Read more...] about Observations: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s game-changing saves ‘everything’ for Sabres
Archives for October 30, 2023
Mike Harrington: Sabres get a win that finally plays up to their preseason hype
'The Sabres are finding their game offensively. That’s 14 goals in the last three games in the wake of Monday’s gutpunch against Montreal that saw them score just one on 79 shot attempts.' … [Read more...] about Mike Harrington: Sabres get a win that finally plays up to their preseason hype
Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stymies Avs, records first NHL shutout
'“I feel like that (save on Rantanen) was a big one just because we’re not going behind in the early stage of the first and we go and get the first goal of the game which is huge,” Luukkonen said after making 24 saves in his first NHL shutout. “That felt good.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stymies Avs, records first NHL shutout
Monday's Colorado Coverage
Avalanche loses again, but teammates, coach Jared Bednar not happy after “dangerous” play leads to Cale Makar injury scare (Denver Post) Avalanche vs. Sabres: 3 takeaways from the Avs' 4-0 loss to Buffalo (Colorado Springs Gazette) Avs star Cale Makar hits boards awkwardly, leaves game, returns (KKFN-FM) Gabriel Landeskog went to Buffalo, gave Erik Johnson amazing gift … [Read more...] about Monday’s Colorado Coverage
Luukkonen gets 1st career shutout as Sabres beat Avalanche 4-0
'“It’s really a confidence booster for me and I’ve been waiting for a long time,” said Luukkonen, who won for the second time in three starts.' … [Read more...] about Luukkonen gets 1st career shutout as Sabres beat Avalanche 4-0
Sabres blank Avalanche; Luukkonen earns first-career shutout
'After getting through some early chances from the Avalanche, it was JJ Peterka giving the Sabres the 1-0 lead midway through the first period as he followed up his own blocked shot and snapped home the game's first goal.' … [Read more...] about Sabres blank Avalanche; Luukkonen earns first-career shutout
Opinion: Luukkonen's first-career shutout gets Buffalo past Colorado
'Despite Sunday's win, his team broke down around him immediately with numerous bad decisions and turnovers. It took maybe five or six minutes of Luukkonen standing on his head and then the Sabres got to their game.' … [Read more...] about Opinion: Luukkonen’s first-career shutout gets Buffalo past Colorado
Luukkonen earns 1st NHL shutout in Sabres win against Avalanche
'"It feels great, especially now when it's only my second start of the season and maybe in Ottawa (a 6-4 Sabres win Oct. 24) the numbers didn't reflect how good I felt in that game," Luukkonen said. "It's really a confidence booster for me and I've been waiting for a long time."' … [Read more...] about Luukkonen earns 1st NHL shutout in Sabres win against Avalanche
'A new standard' | Sabres play to identity as Luukkonen shuts out Avalanche
'“We needed to have a game like that, and it just happened to be against one of the top teams in the league,” Johnson said. "So, I think that’s a good measuring stick for us. I mean, that’s a team that knows how to win, that’s won, and it’s one of the top teams in the league. “So regardless of who we played, we needed to have a game like that but to have it against a team like … [Read more...] about ‘A new standard’ | Sabres play to identity as Luukkonen shuts out Avalanche