Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres have played three goaltenders in their two preseason games, and only Dustin Tokarski has looked good.
It was Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s turn to play on Thursday in Detroit, and let’s just say it didn’t go well against the Red Wings.
Luukkonen gave up five goals on 31 shots faced, as the Red Wings cruised to a 6-2 win. Aaron Dell got the start on Tuesday and played half the game, giving up three goals on 15 shots faced.
This was a golden opportunity for Luukkonen to establish himself as a challenger to Dell and Craig Anderson this season, but he didn’t do it.
The first period was great for Luukkonen, making 18 saves and leaving with a 1-0 lead. It only took 2:06 into the second period for that lead to evaporate for the rest of the night, as Robby Fabbri picked up a rebound on a bad angle, but scored because Luukkonen was late getting there.
In just 3:12 of game action, the Red Wings turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. Arttu Ruotsalainen had a bad turnover, leading to a Lucas Raymond goal to make it 2-1. Then, a Troy Stecher’s wrister made it through a maze of players to give Detroit the two-goal advantage.
After that goal, the Sabres took over for a while and capitalized on a power play chance. Ruotsalainen missed on his first chance in front of the Red Wings net, but stuck with it, got the puck back, spun and scored to make it 3-2.
Buffalo’s other goal came in the first period when Rasmus Asplund surprised Alex Nedeljkovic from the right circle.
The Sabres had every chance to crawl back into the game, as Buffalo held Detroit shotless for the first 15:34 of the third period. Dylan Cozens came in totally alone off a 2-on-1 and was stopped, and Brandon Davidson hit the crossbar with a chance.
Cozens was much better in this game starting in the second period than he was in Tuesday's win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Despite scoring a goal, Ruotsalainen - along with J-J Peterka and Linus Weissbach - were on the ice for the first three Detroit goals. Peterka and Weissbach were on the ice for four goals-against on the night. The Red Wings scored on six of their final 14 shots.
The Sabres did do a better job on special teams, killing all four penalties against and going 1-for-2 on the power play.
Friday night will mark the first preseason home game of 2021, and players like Rasmus Dahlin, Anderson, Henri Jokiharju, Jeff Skinner, Casey Mittelstadt and Victor Olofsson will likely play.
