After three consecutive overtime defeats, the Buffalo Sabres secured a 4-3 shootout win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday at KeyBank Center.
Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen played a key role in the victory, making crucial saves during 3-on-3 overtime and stopping all five shootout attempts by Washington. He helped Buffalo manage long defensive shifts for teammates Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch.
“We played it smart,” Luukkonen said after his second appearance of the season. “Nobody started to take runs or tried to jump into plays. I think we kept it tight and let them shoot not from the optimal spot. That’s what we’ve been missing, to play smart on the 3-on-3, and I think we did that tonight.”
In the shootout’s fourth round, Alex Ovechkin failed to get off a strong shot against Luukkonen. In the fifth round, Bowen Byram scored his first career shootout goal with a glove-side wrist shot past Charlie Lindgren, which decided the game.
“I feel like shootouts, you’re 1-on-1 against the shooter, it’s almost easier to read than the plays that happen (in) overtime,” said Luukkonen, now 7-4 in shootouts in his career. “There’s so much speed and everybody’s kind of all over the place. So, it just felt good to help the team to win tonight.”
Luukkonen had missed part of training camp and early games due to lower-body injuries. His season debut came on October 25 in Toronto when he allowed four goals in another overtime loss. On Saturday night, after conceding two early goals within 2:15 of play, he stopped 29 of 30 shots for the remainder of regulation and overtime.
“His start has nothing to do with his game; it had to do with our game, our group,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “We tried to come with pressure, they beat our pressure, and when they beat our pressure, we gave them a couple great looks.
“… I thought he was really dialed in. He just looked comfortable. Made some great saves. … I thought he got in a pretty good rhythm.”
Buffalo responded quickly after falling behind by two goals early in the first period. Tage Thompson scored just seconds after Aliaksei Protas’ goal made it 2-0 for Washington. Later in the period, Alex Tuch tied it up on a rush play.
Isak Rosen gave Buffalo its first lead late in the opening period with his first NHL goal during his sixteenth career game. Rosen started alongside Jiri Kulich and Jack Quinn; Quinn set up Rosen’s goal with a no-look pass.
“Just a great play by Quinner, a great pass,” said Rosen, who plans to hang the puck on his wall. “Just trying to get it on net, and it went in. Really good feeling, of course – probably the best feeling ever, to be honest.”
Coach Ruff noted Rosen’s improved confidence compared to previous NHL stints and credited him for seizing opportunities with more ice time.
“He’s really played well down there (AHL), and he’s coming up here knowing that we’re going to give him a good opportunity, use him on the power play, playing where he’s been playing, and get enough ice time with quality people to get something done,” Ruff said.
The Sabres’ penalty kill remained strong throughout Saturday’s game—Buffalo is currently leading the NHL with a penalty kill rate above ninety percent this season—and stopped all four Capitals power plays without allowing any significant scoring chances or more than one shot on goal during those penalties.
“That’s how good they were,” Ruff said. “I thought our clears were excellent. I thought (Mattias) Samuelsson, all night, was a beast when it comes to the killing and blocking shots.”
Several players logged significant shorthanded minutes including Samuelsson and Conor Timmins as well as recent addition Jordan Greenway and Ryan McLeod.
“That’s been the whole season, I think, how well we’ve been killing penalties and how well the guys are ready to put themselves on the line – block shots and make plays on the penalty kill,” Luukkonen added. “I think it’s been awesome to see.”
The Sabres will next face Utah Mammoth at KeyBank Center on Tuesday.
