Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had a net to himself at the Sabres’ morning skate on Tuesday before Game 4 against the Canadiens, a clear sign Buffalo is at least considering a change in goal after Alex Lyon started seven straight games. Lyon has allowed nine goals in the last two games against Montreal, and the crease work came on a morning when rookie Konsta Helenius also skated on a line and could make his NHL playoff debut.
Luukkonen’s return to the spotlight would come after a rough opening to the postseason. He started the playoffs as Buffalo’s No. 1 against the Bruins in Round 1, then had a difficult Game 2 that included a bouncing goal by Morgan Geekie from center ice. Since then, Lyon has carried the net, but the results have left the Sabres looking for answers in a series where every mistake has been amplified.
The morning skate also offered another clue about how Buffalo may try to steady itself in Game 4. Luke Schenn skated on a defensive pair with Conor Timmins in place of Logan Stanley, giving the Sabres a veteran presence with 58 playoff games and two Stanley Cups on his resume. Schenn played only four games for Buffalo after coming over at the trade deadline in a deal with the Jets, but he has seen enough postseason hockey to know how quickly a coach can turn to experience when the margin tightens.
Helenius added a different kind of edge to the day. The rookie said he plays a physical game and likes to bring emotion into it, saying he is not the biggest player but tries to play hard because that makes the game easier. He called these big games and said that in a best-of-seven series every play matters. He also noted that everyone is watching and that he wants to show he can play. If he gets into the lineup, it would be his playoff debut and his 10th game of the season, which would burn a year of his entry-level contract.
That is the risk Buffalo is balancing across the ice. The Sabres are trailing Montreal in a series where defensive mistakes have become a concern, and Ruff has already lamented how many errors his team has made in its own zone. Speed has been an issue against the Canadiens, but defending the front of the net has been identified as another problem, leaving Buffalo searching for a lineup that can both protect its crease and find a way to push back in Game 4.
For Luukkonen, the morning skate was more than a routine. It was a test run for the moment Buffalo may need most, if the Sabres decide the net should belong to the goalie who opened the playoffs for them in the first place.
