Sabre Noise
Fansided

Fans’ take on how the Buffalo Sabres should improve

By Sion Fawkes

Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2021; New York, NY, USA; Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the second period save against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Buffalo Sabres
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 27: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabres skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2021 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Sabres 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Improve Goaltending

While to be fair, the Sabres defense has not played well in recent games and goaltenders like Craig Anderson have made highlight reel-worthy saves, it still isn’t enough. Great players, regardless of the sport, can elevate talent of those around them. Anderson and fellow goalie Dustin Tokarski have not done that.

Here’s a staggering statistic: In their last five games both Anderson and Tokarski have a save percentage lower than 90% in three games apiece. Against the St. Louis Blues, Tokarski bottomed out with just an .818% percentage. Sunday’s loss to Dallas marked Anderson’s third straight game with a save percentage under 90%.

Enter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is currently down in Rochester. Luukkonen needs every chance he can get to prove that he’s the goalie of the future. And we know two things: The Sabres’ future goalie is neither Anderson nor Tokarski. Following an epic game last Friday in which UPL saved 98.1 percent of his shots on goal against, you would think the Sabres have him slated to return to the NHL sooner than later.

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