Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the talented goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres, found himself practicing at LECOM Harborcenter on Friday instead of competing at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena for Finland in the Olympic semifinals. A tough break from a lower-body injury last month in Toronto kept him from what would have been a well-deserved Olympic appearance. After a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Canada, Finland is now gearing up for the bronze medal game without him.
Luukkonen’s absence meant Colten Ellis stepped up during that 7-4 victory against Toronto, and Boston's Joonas Korpisalo took over his spot on Team Finland. Reflecting on missing the Olympics, Luukkonen shared, “It was kind of devastating to know that you can’t make it.
It’s something that’s been in the back of my mind for a long time.” Despite the setback, he’s focusing on recovery and is optimistic about returning when the NHL resumes next Wednesday in New Jersey.
Back in action, Luukkonen participated fully in Thursday's practice and is eyeing a return from injured reserve. During his absence, Ellis and Alex Lyon held the fort with a .904 save percentage over five games.
Luukkonen’s return is crucial for the Sabres’ playoff ambitions. His performance before the injury was stellar, boasting a 7-2-1 record with a .922 save percentage and a 2.41 goals-against average.
“He’s been a huge part of our team this year,” said forward Josh Doan. “When he’s on, he’s one of the best goalies in the league.”
While missing the Olympics was tough, Luukkonen used the time to rehab and recharge mentally. He’s been cheering on his Finnish teammates, who pulled off a thrilling comeback against Switzerland in the quarterfinals. “That’s the Finnish for you; they’re never out,” Luukkonen said, expressing pride in their resilience.
With the Sabres holding the first Eastern Conference wild card spot and a playoff run in sight, Luukkonen has shifted his focus to Buffalo. “Mentally for me, it’s always that what happened, you can’t change that,” he said. He’s ready to contribute to what could be a special playoff push for the Sabres.
In other team news, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is set to rejoin practice soon after returning from Italy. Forward Zach Benson’s status remains uncertain as he continues to be evaluated for an upper-body injury.
Meanwhile, Alex Tuch, who attended Team USA’s Olympic Orientation Camp but didn’t make the roster, has been supporting his teammates from afar. “I’m friends with a lot of those guys, and I’m always gonna be rooting for Team USA,” Tuch said, showing no hard feelings.
The Sabres will be back on the ice Sunday morning, gearing up for the final stretch of the season. Stay tuned for more updates as they prepare for the last 25 games.