Buffalo Sabres hint at massive goaltending move for Game 7
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looks set to start for Lindy Ruff as the Buffalo Sabres head into Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens Monday night.
Ruff didn't name his starter when asked before the game. He kept that call behind closed doors and made Montreal wait a little longer.
But the morning skate gave Buffalo's plan away.
Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis stayed on the ice with the extra skaters after the session, which usually points to the expected starter leaving early. That strongly hints Luukkonen will get the crease.
That's a sharp swing in a series where Ruff has leaned on both goalies at different points.
It also follows what happened in Game 6, when Lyon lost control of the night in a hurry and Montreal scored 3 times on its first 4 shots.
Luukkonen stepped in after that and settled everything down, turning aside all 18 shots he faced in relief and giving Buffalo a pulse.
Ruff appears to trust the hot hand
That relief run may have changed the call more than anything else. In a win-or-go-home spot, coaches usually ride the goalie who looks calmest in the crease.
Lyon's playoff body of work has still been stronger overall. He has played 10 games and carries a .904 save percentage in this postseason.
Luukkonen's numbers haven't been as steady, with a .875 save percentage over 5 playoff appearances entering Game 7.
That's what makes this decision so interesting. Ruff may be betting less on the bigger sample and more on the last thing he saw from his bench.
And what he saw was Luukkonen come in cold, track the puck cleanly, and stop Montreal from blowing the door open.
The Canadiens know who they're getting in net with Jakub Dobes, who has started all 13 playoff games for them. Buffalo has taken the harder path to this point.
Now the Sabres look ready to hand their biggest game to Luukkonen and trust that his Game 6 push wasn't just a brief spark.
|
YESTERDAY
MAY 16, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Rasmus Dahlin | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Tage Thompson | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| Jack Quinn | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Evans | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jason Zucker | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ivan Demidov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Konsta Helenius | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zach Metsa | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Arber Xhekaj | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Michael Matheson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Norris | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mattias Samuelsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | - | - | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||