Injury Updates Shake Up Sabres, Bruins, and Predators Mid-Game
It was a night of high-scoring action and unexpected exits across the NHL, with three teams forced to make in-game adjustments after key players went down. The Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, and Nashville Predators all saw pivotal pieces leave early due to injuries-each with potential implications depending on how long they’re sidelined.
Sabres Lose Luukkonen Early, Still Roll Past Toronto
Midway through the first period against the Maple Leafs, the Buffalo Sabres announced that goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen would not return due to a lower-body injury. His night ended just 12:14 into the contest after allowing two goals on five shots. The turning point appeared to come after Auston Matthews scored, with Luukkonen visibly uncomfortable before pulling himself from the game.
Colten Ellis stepped in and held the line, helping Buffalo close out a 7-4 win in what turned into a shootout on the scoreboard. It was an impressive response from both Ellis and the team, considering the sudden change in net.
Luukkonen had already missed time earlier this season with a lower-body issue, but had since settled in as part of a steady three-man rotation alongside Alex Lyon and Ellis. In 20 appearances this season, Luukkonen has posted a .905 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average-solid numbers that reflect his growing reliability in net. At 26, he’s been forming a strong tandem with Lyon, and the Sabres' decision to carry three goalies has paid off in moments like this.
The team will hope this isn’t a long-term setback, especially with their recent momentum. For now, they’re well-covered in goal, but Luukkonen’s presence has been a key part of Buffalo’s stability this season.
Bruins’ Lindholm Exits Early with Upper-Body Injury
In Boston, the Bruins were dealt a blow of their own when top-line center Elias Lindholm left the game against Nashville and did not return due to an upper-body injury. The issue seemed to arise right after a face-off, and while there was no immediate update postgame, the team is expected to provide more clarity before Thursday’s matchup against the Flyers.
Lindholm has been heating up lately, with six points in his last five games and a resurgence that has him on pace to easily surpass last season’s 47-point total. Sitting third on the team in scoring heading into the night, his return to form has been a welcome development for Boston’s offense. The Bruins will be hoping this is nothing more than a short-term issue, given how central he’s been to their attack.
Predators’ Svechkov Leaves After Heavy Hit
On the other side of that Bruins game, Nashville also saw a center leave early. Fedor Svechkov exited in the first period after taking a hard hit and was later ruled out with an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old has had a quieter sophomore season, tallying just nine points in 49 games-a noticeable dip from the 17 he posted as a rookie.
Still, Svechkov’s been a regular fixture in the Predators’ lineup, aside from a recent healthy scratch, and his defensive reliability has kept him in the mix. If he’s unavailable for Thursday’s game in New Jersey, expect Tyson Jost to draw back into the lineup.
What’s Next
Injuries are always part of the grind in an NHL season, but when they strike mid-game-especially to starters and top-line players-teams are forced to adapt on the fly. Buffalo showed they could do just that with a strong finish against Toronto, while both Boston and Nashville will be monitoring their centers closely in the coming days.
With all three clubs in the thick of the playoff hunt or trying to build momentum, the health of Luukkonen, Lindholm, and Svechkov will be worth watching as the week unfolds.