Buffalo Sabres News

Luukkonen appears to be the starter on Friday as the Sabres search for their third consecutive victory. Luukkonen has saved 61 of the last 63 shots he's faced (.968 SV%) over the last two games (2-0-0) and is currently doing everything in his ability to ensure he continues to see game-action, even with a healthy Devon Levi in the roster. The Sabres are -162 home favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has been outscored 15-8 over their last three games (0-3-0) and will likely be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.

Tuch did not participate in the Sabres' skate Thursday after missing practice due to maintenance and is a game-time decision Friday vs. Philadelphia after Lukas Rousek was recalled from Rochester (AHL). The 27-year-old right-winger has a goal, six assists, 20 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 10 games this season.

Byram was listed as a game-time decision for Wednesday's game but will suit up for his ninth game of the season. Byram enters the evening with one goal and one assist (two points) while firing 11 shots on goal and averaging 18:39 TOI/gm.

Devon Levi has officially returned to the Sabres' lineup after missing five games with a lower-body injury but will serve as the backup, at least for his first game, to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen didn't get his chance to be the number-one goaltender in Buffalo until Eric Comrie (lower-body) also went down with an injury but has filled in admirably after being called upon. Coming off his best performance thus far, a 23-save shutout victory over the Colorado Avalanche, Luukkonen has a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% in three games this season (2-1-0). The Sabres are slight +101 road underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has done a decent job finding the back of the net, averaging 3.33 goals per game so far this season (4-4-1).

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Byram could play on Wednesday against the St. Louis Blue but will be a game-time decision. The 22-year-old defenseman has two points (1G / 1A) in eight games while averaging 18:40 time-on-ice. Caleb Jones was recalled earlier from the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and could be an option to slide into the lineup if Byram is unable to go.

Levi appears ready to return to the Sabres lineup on Wednesday after missing five games with a lower-body injury. He has a 3.26 GAA and .892 SV% in four games (1-3-0) this season. It is still unclear if Levi will return as the starting goalie or the backup on Wednesday to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who is coming off a 23-save shutout against the Colorado Avalanche.

Benson has been dealing with a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup for three of the Sabres' last five games and has now been given a week-to-week designation. The rookie has two points (0G / 2A) along with six shots on goal while averaging 13:17 time-on-ice through six games.

Georgiev will get the nod in net for the Avalanche for the eighth time in as many games. Georgiev and the Avs suffered their first loss of the season last time out after they were shut out by the Penguins on Thursday. The 27-year-old netminder will be looking to bounce back after giving up four goals on just 24 shots in the losing effort. Despite the poor performance on Thursday, Georgiev remains one of the most effective and reliable goaltenders in fantasy hockey. He owns a .918 SV% and a 2.31 GAA to go along with his 6-1-0 record and has a great chance of notching a league-leading seventh victory today with the Avalanche being -175 road favourites.

With Eric Comrie and Devon Levi both still unavailable due to lower-body injuries, the Sabres will turn to Luukkonen on Sunday. Luukkonen stopped 18 of the 21 shots he faced in relief of Comrie in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Devils. The 24-year-old netminder will need to string together some stronger performances if he wants to continue challenging for starts following the returns of Levi and Comrie. Luukkonen owns an .881 SV% and a 4.78 GAA through two appearances this season.

Georgiev will get his seventh start on Thursday and will look to build on his tremendous early-season results. The Avalanche are one of only three teams without a loss this season (6-0-0), thanks partly to a remarkable start from Georgiev, who has a 1.98 GAA and .930 SV%. The Avalanche are -145 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight and been outscored 20-17 on the season (2-4-0).

Georgiev is expected to get his seventh start on Thursday and will look to build on his tremendous early-season results. The Avalanche are one of only three teams without a loss this season (6-0-0), thanks partly to a remarkable start from Georgiev, who has a 1.98 GAA and .930 SV%. The Avalanche are -145 road favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has lost three straight and been outscored 20-17 on the season (2-4-0).

Georgiev will start again for the Avalanche as they both look to improve to 6-0-0 on the season. Georgiev has been nothing short of spectacular, boasting a 1.58 GAA and .943 SV%, both league-best among goalies that have played at least four games. The Avalanche are -132 road favourites against a New York Islanders team that has the seventh-worst offensive in the league, averaging only 2.25 goals per game.

With the Sabres' on the second half of a back-to-back, Devon Levi (lower-body) injured, and Eric Comrie starting yesterday, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to make his season debut Tuesday vs. Ottawa. Luukkonen has yet to make an appearance in 2023-24 but was 17-11-4 with a .892 SV% and a 3.61 GAA in 32 games started with the Sabres in 2022-23. He takes on the Ottawa Senators, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a loss last game but are third in the NHL in goals per game (4.2).

It appears Georgiev will start again for the Avalanche as they both look to improve to 6-0-0 on the season. Georgiev has been nothing short of spectacular, boasting a 1.58 GAA and .943 SV%, both league-best among goalies that have played at least four games. The Avalanche are -132 road favourites against a New York Islanders team that has the seventh-worst offensive in the league, averaging only 2.25 goals per game.

Zucker is week-to-week after exiting Saturday's game against the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury. In his first season with the Coyotes, Zucker has two points (2G / 0A), 14 shots, and 7 hits in five games. Jan Jenik and Zach Sanford have both been recalled from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).

With the Sabres' on the second half of a back-to-back, Devon Levi (lower-body) injured, and Eric Comrie starting yesterday, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to make his season debut Tuesday vs. Ottawa. Luukkonen has yet to make an appearance in 2023-24 but was 17-11-4 with a .892 SV% and a 3.61 GAA in 32 games started with the Sabres in 2022-23. He takes on the Ottawa Senators, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a loss last game but are third in the NHL in goals per game (4.2).

Levi will remain out of the lineup for at least the next two games while he recovers from a lower-body injury. Eric Comrie, who was excellent filling in for Levi on Saturday by making 24 of 25 saves in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders, will tend the crease for the Sabres on Monday. Levi has a 3.26 GAA and .890 SV% in four games (1-3-0) and isn't expected to miss a significant amount of time.

Georgiev was perfect in his previous start as he stopped 18 of 18 shots against vs. the Chicago Blackhawks for his first shutout of the season and will start Saturday vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old has yet to lose this season as he is 4-0-0 with a .965 SV% and a .098 GAA. He takes on the Carolina Hurricanes, who have lost two of their last three but are third in the NHL in shots per game (34.8) and fourth in goals (4.6).