Buffalo's Goalie Duo Shines in Road Dominance
The Buffalo Sabres' goaltending tandem of Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is proving to be a formidable force, driving the team's success with a friendly yet fierce competition between the pipes.
In a commanding 5-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center, Lyon followed Luukkonen's lead by stopping all 23 shots he faced. Just two days prior, Luukkonen had delivered a stellar 28-save shutout against Vegas, showcasing the depth and talent of Buffalo's netminders.
Captain Rasmus Dahlin couldn't help but praise their contributions. "We have two unbelievable goalies," Dahlin remarked.
"He can’t be worse than Upie, it seems like, so he also had to shut it out. Unbelievable.
They are a huge part of our success."
Buffalo's prowess on the road has reached unprecedented levels, with the team extending its franchise-record points streak to 12 games (11-0-1) away from KeyBank Center. Since December 9, the Sabres have been nearly unstoppable on the road, boasting an 18-2-1 record, largely thanks to a remarkable .935 save percentage from their goalies.
Lyon himself is riding a personal wave of success, with 10 consecutive road wins under his belt. If the rotation continues, he’ll have the opportunity to tie the NHL record for consecutive road wins on Sunday in Anaheim.
Reacting to this potential milestone, Lyon shared insights into his preparation: "I didn’t know that!" he exclaimed.
"I think as you get older, you get better on the road, just taking care of your body, doing the right things leading up to the game. It’s a completely different process than preparing for a home game, so you get better at that with time.
It’s cool, and (I’m) just gonna try to send it next game."
With their dynamic goaltending duo leading the charge, the Sabres are setting a high bar for road performance, and the rest of the league is taking notice.