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Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves in Buffalo’s 6-3 season-opening loss to Columbus on October 1, 2026. It was a difficult first result, but one game—especially after a preseason injury concern—does not establish a season-long slump. The Sabres’ special-teams problems also shaped the loss.
How did Luukkonen play in the opener?
Luukkonen stopped 17 shots as the Blue Jackets beat the Sabres 6-3. Buffalo’s team line was 26 shots, while Columbus had 23; those team totals are not Luukkonen’s individual save count. The NHL recap gives his goalie-specific total as 17 saves. NHL game recap · Official NHL event summary
The result was not a straightforward collapse from start to finish: Buffalo twice pulled within one goal before Columbus extended its lead, according to the Sabres’ recap. That does not erase the six goals allowed, but it places the final score in the context of a game that remained close at points.
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Why the loss was not only about the goalie
Buffalo went 0-for-5 on the power play, and Columbus scored twice with the man advantage. Head coach Lindy Ruff said, “It was a night where special teams was a difference maker.” Those team-level details matter when assessing the loss: they identify another part of Buffalo’s performance that affected the outcome, without proving that special teams or defense caused any particular goal.
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Forward Zach Benson described the game as involving “a couple of breakdowns” and said the team wanted some plays back. His comments reflected Buffalo’s view of the collective performance, not a specific assessment of Luukkonen’s individual saves.
What the preseason injury adds to the picture
Luukkonen left Buffalo’s September 26 preseason finale against Pittsburgh at 3:47 of the third period with a lower-body issue. Ruff said he “tweaked something” and that the team got him off the ice because it “didn’t want to take any chances.” Buffalo did not provide a recovery timeline at that point. Sabres preseason report
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By the NHL’s September 30 status report, Luukkonen had practiced in the starter’s net for two days and was expected to start the opener; he did start in Columbus. The available reports establish that he returned to practice and played, but do not establish whether the preseason issue affected his performance. NHL status report
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One game is a much smaller sample than a full regular season. Luukkonen’s 2025-26 regular-season record was 22-9-3, with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage over 35 games, according to the NHL’s 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Media Guide.
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Buffalo’s September 10, 2026 goalie-depth preview reported that Luukkonen had a .917 save percentage over his final 25 games of the 2025-26 season after a slow start. That 25-game late-season stretch is a different window from the 35-game regular-season total; neither figure predicts how he will perform in his next start. Sabres goalie-depth preview
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who might start Buffalo’s next game?
As of Buffalo’s October 2 practice report, the starter for the home opener against Chicago had not been publicly settled: Luukkonen and Colten Ellis had both spent time in the starter’s net. The same report listed Luukkonen’s career record against Chicago as 6-0-0 with a .928 save percentage. That is a historical matchup record reported by Buffalo on October 2, not a prediction or confirmation of the next start. Sabres practice report
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The fairest current description is an uneven opening-night result following a brief preseason health concern—not evidence, on its own, of a season-long decline.
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