Sabres assign Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to AHL for conditioning
Luukkonen has yet to play a game this season. He missed the bulk of training camp and the preseason with separate lower-body injuries.
The Buffalo Sabres could be getting a goaltender back, soon. But first, that move will involve a detour to the American Hockey League.
Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen makes a save in the first period on a shot by Pittsburgh defenseman Matt Dumba.
Joed Viera, Buffalo News
The Sabres announced Tuesday morning that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will join Rochester on a conditioning assignment, on loan. Defenseman Zac Jones, who was with the team in Montreal on Monday but did not play in a 4-2 loss to the Canadiens at the Bell Centre, has also been loaned to the Amerks.
Luukkonen has yet to play a game this season. He missed the bulk of training camp and the preseason with separate lower-body injuries, and played in only one period of one preseason game, a 5-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Oct. 1 at KeyBank Center.
Luukkonen stopped 11 of 12 shots he faced against the Penguins in 20 minutes of the Sabres’ second-to-last preseason game. After the preseason loss to the Penguins, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Luukkonen didn’t quite feel right in goal, and Luukkonen opened the season on injured reserve.
Alex Lyon, signed in July as a free agent after two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, has proven formidable as the Sabres’ starting goalie in their first six games this season, in Luukkonen’s absence. Lyon has a .924 save percentage and a 2.55 goals-against average, with one shutout.
Luukkonen rejoined the Sabres for practices on Oct. 14, and traveled to Montreal with the team this week. Luukkonen practiced Tuesday morning with Rochester. The Amerks host Syracuse at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.
Sending Luukkonen to Rochester will give him necessary playing time as he porepares for his season debut, but he could temporarily supplant Devon Levi. Levi is 2-0 so far with the Amerks, and has allowed seven goals, with a 3.50 goals-against average and a .877 save percentage.
Luukkonen hasn’t played in a regular-season game since April 15, a 4-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was 24-24-5 with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage. Inconsistency plagued Luukkonen, who started only five of the Sabres’ final 16 games last season, as he was supplanted by James Reimer as the Sabres’ starter in the final weeks of the season.