The Buffalo Sabres are turning back to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night at Bell Centre. Alex Lyon, who started Buffalo's previous seven games after replacing Luukkonen in Game 2 of the first round against the Boston Bruins on April 21, gave up five goals on 36 shots in Sunday's 6-2 loss.
The change puts Buffalo back with the goalie who opened the series, even as the club tries to stop a slide that has left it down 2-1 after two straight defeats. Montreal has won the last two games by a combined 11 goals, scoring early and often in a series that has shifted quickly after Buffalo opened with a 4-2 win in Game 1. Josh Doan gave the Sabres that first victory when he scored at 4:31 of the opening period, but the Canadiens answered in Game 2 with Alex Newhook scoring 1:36 after the opening face-off and Mike Matheson adding another at 4:27 en route to a 5-1 win. On Sunday, Tage Thompson scored 53 seconds into the first period, only for Montreal to roll to a 6-2 victory.
Buffalo's lineup could also change in front of Luukkonen. Luke Schenn is a possible addition on defense in place of Logan Stanley, while Konsta Helenius could come in at forward for Sam Carrick. Schenn said he knows how to handle the uncertainty, saying players have to stay patient, stay ready and keep working with the coaches and extra skaters when they are out of the lineup. For Buffalo, that depth may matter as much as the goalie switch if it wants to pull the series back level before it heads deeper into the week.
Montreal, meanwhile, is one win from becoming the first team to take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-7 series for the 30th time, a mark that has held up because it has never lost after getting there. The Canadiens are 29-0 when taking a 3-1 lead in a best-of-7, and they know exactly what is at stake. Phillip Danault called it a huge learning process for the young team but said it also shows they can do it, while Zachary Bolduc said both sides want fast starts and that the team that grabs the early lead usually puts itself in the better position. Buffalo is 8-6 in Game 4 when trailing 2-1 and 2-1 on the road in that spot, but Tuesday is about more than history. It is about whether Luukkonen can settle the Sabres after two losses and force Montreal to prove the numbers matter one more time.
