Alex Lyon’s Stellar Play Fuels Sabres’ Playoff Push - and Complicates Their Goalie Picture
It’s hard to talk about the Buffalo Sabres’ surge into the Eastern Conference playoff race without spotlighting the guy between the pipes: Alex Lyon. The 33-year-old journeyman has gone from depth signing to indispensable starter - and he’s doing it with the kind of calm, consistent play that gives a team real belief.
Lyon’s numbers tell part of the story: a 2.72 goals against average and a .912 save percentage across 27 games. But the bigger picture?
He’s been the backbone of this team through its early-season struggles and midseason resurgence. While the skaters in front of him found their footing, Lyon kept Buffalo afloat.
And now, with the Sabres rolling, the league is starting to take notice.
At the Olympic break, Lyon landed ninth on a list of Vezina Trophy candidates - a nod from Dom Luszczyszyn that might’ve seemed unthinkable when the Sabres brought him in last July as insurance. That list includes names like Ilya Sorokin and Andrei Vasilevskiy, perennial elite goalies. Lyon might not be in that tier, but he’s earned his seat at the table this season.
And he’s done it so well, in fact, that any trade chatter from earlier in the year has all but disappeared. Right now, Lyon’s simply too important to move. He’s helped stabilize a team that’s gone 21-5-2 since a pivotal December 9 win over the Edmonton Oilers - a run that’s vaulted Buffalo into a wild-card spot and back into postseason relevance.
But Lyon’s rise has created a good problem - and a tough one - for GM Jarmo Kekalainen and head coach Lindy Ruff. Buffalo has three NHL-caliber goalies on the roster: Lyon, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and rookie Colten Ellis.
And as Kekalainen admitted after taking over in December, a three-goalie setup isn’t ideal. There just aren’t enough starts or practice reps to keep everyone sharp.
Still, each of the three has delivered during this red-hot stretch:
- Alex Lyon: .925 save percentage in 13 games
- Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: .916 in 11 games
- Colten Ellis: .903 in six games
That’s not just serviceable - that’s winning hockey. And it’s why Kekalainen hasn’t rushed into a decision.
Lyon’s been lights-out. Luukkonen looks more like the goalie who flashed serious upside in 2023-24.
And Ellis, the 23-year-old rookie, has shown enough to suggest he’s not far off from being a regular contributor, especially after two strong AHL seasons in the Blues organization.
So what’s the play here?
Assuming Luukkonen is healthy after missing the Olympics with a lower-body injury, Ruff will likely lean on a two-man rotation between him and Lyon as the regular season hits the stretch run. That’s the safest bet - ride the hot hands, keep both engaged, and give the team its best shot at ending a playoff drought that’s stretched all the way back to 2011.
But Ellis can’t just be left in the press box indefinitely. He needs game action to keep developing - and more importantly, to be ready if injuries strike again. Ruff will have to find the right spots to get him in, without sacrificing points in a playoff race where every game matters.
It’s a delicate balance, but it’s the kind of problem a team wants to have. The Sabres have gone from figuring out how to stay afloat, to figuring out how to manage a surplus of capable goaltenders in the middle of a playoff push.
And none of it happens without Lyon. The former Yale standout has elevated his game to a level we haven’t seen since his late-season heroics with the Florida Panthers in 2022-23. He’s not going to win the Vezina - let’s be real - but the fact that he’s even in the conversation is a testament to the impact he’s had.
Buffalo’s playoff hopes are alive and well. And Alex Lyon is a big reason why.