Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will make his NHL debut Friday against the Boston Bruins. Don Granato admitted that this would not be happening if Linus Ullmark were healthy.
Granato hasn’t seen much of his young goalie, but there are some things that stand out.
“In the bit that I’ve watched him, it’s clear to see his athletic ability, his positional knowledge and his size. He has a presence in the net,” the Sabres interim head coach said Friday.
Luukkonen has spent a few games being Dustin Tokarski’s backup.
“It helps to see what the pace of the game is and what the level of the NHL looks like,” he said.
Luukkonen also felt it’s helped to be here in Buffalo before he played to get to know the guys.
The 22-year-old was taken in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft, and he’s the eighth goaltender from that class to play a NHL game. Jake Oettinger from the Dallas Stars has played 24 games. He was taken in the first round. Boston’s goaltender from Thursday, Jeremy Swayman, has played six games, while five others have played two or fewer games.
Granato said there will be no lineup changes for Friday, which means Cody Eakin and Colin Miller are the healthy scratches.
The biggest problem for the Sabres has been the power play, going 0-for-11 in the last two games against the Bruins. Boston has won six-straight games, and if you’re going to beat them, you have to take advantage of the fact that they're taking penalties.
I think it also needs to be pointed out Boston is the league’s best penalty killing team at 86.7%. The Bruins have killed off 26 of their last 28 penalties.
Buffalo had been doing a great job of scoring goals until the Bruins came to town. In two games, Arttu Ruotsalainen’s goal on Thursday has been the only one scored.
Some of the better chances Thursday came when Tobi Rieder ripped one off the post, Tage Thompson missed a breakaway, and Casey Mittelstadt sent in Rasmus Asplund for a chance.
We’ve been harping on the power play, but the penalty kill has been perfect in the last three games, going 8-for-8. In the last six games, Buffalo’s been 13-for-14.
Yes, the Bruins have won their last six, but they’re still three points back of both the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders, and four behind the Washington Capitals. Boston does hold two games in-hand on all three teams.
In the six-game winning streak, Boston has outscored its opponents 23-7. That’s a goals-against average of 1.15. Three of those six wins have come against the Sabres.
Brad Marchand is sixth in league scoring with 57 points. His 25 goals ranks him third.
Tuukka Rask will be opposite his fellow goaltender from Finland. Rask shut the Sabres out on Tuesday, and is 11-4-2 with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
Boston has beaten the Sabres the 10-straight games.
Many of you have been asking about the Sabres getting the vaccine. I've been told by the Sabres that since New York State made vaccines available to those 16 and older, many players and staff have received at least their first vaccine doses.
Join the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. ET, when he’ll be joined by Granato, Luukkonen and Rasmus Dahlin.
***Photo: Micheline Michaelina (@MiMiV4682)
