The Buffalo Sabres are now halfway through their six-game road trip and still in search of their first win on this trip. After their 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, head coach Lindy Ruff said they might need to shake up their lines.
They would end up doing with almost every line changed including the top line with Tage Thompson back to center and was joined by Jordan Greenway and Alex Tuch on the first line. Unfortunately, it was more of the same for this Sabres' team as they would give up two early goals and be forced to play catch up the remainder of the game.
They would keep it close, but seemingly every time they made a play, the Flames would answer shortly after. In the second period, Owen Power would score to make it 3-2, only to have the Flames answer about 30 seconds later with Nazem Kadri scoring to push the lead back to two.
Then later in that same period, Rasmus Dahlin would find the back of the net but the Flames once again answered with a goal of their own less than a minute later to make it 5-3. That final goal would be all Lindy Ruff needed to see and make a goalie change in the second intermission by having Alex Lyon start the third in place of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Buffalo Sabres might need to make another switch with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen struggling
Recently, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been seemingly the Sabres' starter in net as he has started five of their last eight games. He has had some good games, like when he allowed only one goal at home against the Winnipeg Jets last week.
However, his last two starts have been bad to say the least and he has now allowed eight goals in his past two games. On Monday against the Flames, Luukkonen would stop only 17 of 22 shots before being replaced by Lyon.
Alex Lyon was much better in the third period as he stopped all four shots he faced before the Flames scored two empty net goals at the end of the game as Buffalo tried to tie it up.
When considering the Sabres have a back-to-back and will be on the ice again tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, Luukkonen was always unlikely to play this game. It is unclear who would get the start against the Oilers, between Lyon and Colten Ellis, but whoever is in net has a great chance to earn some additional starts on this road trip.