Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was brilliant for his third-straight game, but still doesn’t have a win this season.
Luukkonen made 40 saves, but the Sabres lost in a shootout to the Washington Capitals, 3-2. Buffalo had a 2-1 lead in the third period when Alex Ovechkin found Martin Fehervary for an open one-timer.
The Sabres had really played well until the third period. Both teams had played Friday night, but the Sabres were the only team out of gas in the third period. Buffalo's decisions with the puck were all of a sudden complicated, and Washington ripped 17 shots at Luukkonen to only six for Buffalo.
Even though they played poorly in the third, Brett Murray had numerous chances, but couldn’t get one by Vitek Vanecek. The Capitals netminder is now 7-1-1 against Buffalo.
The Sabres couldn’t catch a break in the shootout. Both Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens hit the post, while Victor Olofsson scored. For the Capitals, arguably, the best shootout player in the history of hockey, T.J. Oshie, had the game in his hands and easily scored to win the game.
Granato’s choices were curious, at best, as Cozens was 0-for-1 in his career at shootouts and Olofsson was 0-for-5. Thompson came in to his attempt 3-for-6.
In three games this season, Luukkonen has a goals-against average of 1.98 with a .938 save percentage.
"He looks a lot different than he did in training camp," Granato said of his young goaltender after the loss. "He was able to re-calibrate and re-focus in Rochester and use those experiences to add to those performances in the last three games he's played."
As far as if he’s frustrated that three great performances has only netted one-of-six points, Luukkonen didn't think of it in a personal way.
“I think at some level it's frustrating for the whole team," Luukkonen said following the loss. "It's happened three times this week. That leaves us some hunger for next week."
Malcolm Subban is ready to return, but I think Luukkonen has earned the start Tuesday in Winnipeg against the Jets.
“You can't choose which games to play," Luukkonen said. "I was happy to get the chance to play again”
Buffalo had numerous chances to add to their 2-1 lead, but Zemgus Girgensons fumbled away a 2-on-1, Dylan Cozens hit the post and then was stopped in the slot.
Cozens stole the puck, producing a 2-on-0, but Kyle Okposo couldn’t beat Vanecek. Jeff Skinner got open through the slot, but missed on the backhand. Murray was causing havoc in front, but his screens weren’t enough to score.
For a month, the Sabres were scoring four goals on a regular basis and only winning once. Saturday was the first point they earned since Nov. 27, which was an overtime loss in Detroit. Buffalo’s losing streak is now at seven games.
This weekend, the Sabres played two very good teams in the New York Rangers and Washington, and really played well enough to easily win both games. However, Buffalo only got one point. The games were entertaining, and the Sabres got very few breaks.
Against New York, Buffalo scored the game-tying goal with 56 seconds left, but had it overturned for an offside. On Saturday, the NHL apologized to the Sabres, saying the evidence wasn't conclusive enough and the goal shouldn’t have been overturned. That doesn’t get you back the point, or maybe two, the NHL cost you.
Next week sees the Sabres playing Winnipeg, the Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins on the road. Buffalo could easily lose all three games, but with Luukkonen playing better, I think if the team keeps playing well, they should get a win at some point on the road.
