Sabres’ Alex Lyon knows he owes Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen big time

The season for the Buffalo Sabres, which was the best season that the club had had since they last made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2011, ended in stunning disappointment at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens defeated the Sabres by a 3-2 final score in overtime of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal. Alex Newhook beat Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a quick snapshot past the glove during the extra session. Montreal now advances to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Sabres are left picking up the pieces.

Speaking of Luukkonen, he was Buffalo’s starter in round one of the playoffs against the Boston Bruins before he was eventually replaced early in the Canadiens series. Yet, he found himself back in the net for Game 6. Lyon, who allowed three goals on four shots in the first period of Game 6, gave way to Luukkonen, who stopped all 18 shots he faced in relief to pick up the Game 6 win and was later named the starter for Game 7.

During Lyon’s season-ending media availability session on Tuesday, he gave props to Luukkonen, saying he owes him a few favors for Game 6.

“You try to prepare the same way for every game, and sometimes things like that just happen,” Lyon said of being pulled in Game 6. “That’s the life of an NHL goalie. But for sure, it would be a lot worse if our season ended that night, so I owe a huge amount of gratitude to the guys. Credit to them for pulling through, and I owe UPL a nice bottle of wine and a big hug.”

Lyon is under contract with the Sabres through the end of next season.

The season for the Buffalo Sabres, which was the best season that the club had had since they last made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2011, ended in stunning disappointment at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens defeated the Sabres by a 3-2 final score in overtime of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal.