Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s recent success lifting up Sabres
In what is the first year of another rebuilding period, the Buffalo Sabres have faced their share of ups and downs, along with injuries to some of their top players. This has resulted in the team winning only four games in the last month. Although many of the prospects in Rochester have not been called up despite the injuries to the Sabres, a variety of issues in net saw Buffalo call up top goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
After playing in four games down the stretch last year, UPL has made five consecutive starts, displaying vast improvement from his time in Rochester and a short stint in Buffalo last year. This season, he has so far posted a 2-2-1 record, a goals-against average of 1.96, and a save percentage of .939%.
Although UPL has only made nine starts in the NHL, his presence in goal has thus far positively impacted the Sabres, only allowing two goals per game in regulation in each of his starts. In the prior ten games before UPL’s season debut, Buffalo’s goaltenders averaged 4.2 goals per game, illustrating the stark contrast in overall team performance over the last month.
UPL’s early success in Buffalo came as a pleasant surprise, especially considering his performance earlier this year in Rochester (6-6-1, 3.42 goals-against average, .888% save percentage). Due to his recent play, there is now optimism for the Sabres to keep him on the roster going forward, even when both Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski return to the lineup.
A second-round draft pick (54th overall) in 2017, UPL has been viewed as Buffalo’s next franchise goalie ever since. He was named OHL Rookie of the Year in 2019, and along with the positives and negatives, he’s endured while in the AHL with the Amerks, he’s displayed the potential to succeed in the NHL.
While the Sabres have played 30 games, and he’s only made five starts so far, if UPL continues to play at the level he has displayed this season, it’s likely he will be a permanent member of the Sabres roster sooner than later.
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Of all the players currently on Buffalo’s roster, UPL is the most important as his performance, like most goalies, has the biggest impact on their team throughout the season. Although they are in the midst of a rebuild, development is the key for this season, and if Luukkonen can develop into the franchise netminder they’ve been searching for, that’s a big first step for the Sabres to begin achieving success.