The Buffalo Sabres are trying to end the longest playoff drought in the NHL.
At least in their season opener, they'll have to do it without one of their best players.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the talented goaltender, was placed on Injured Reserve earlier this week with a lower-body injury.
In the immediate term, it means the Sabres will have a different goalie for their season opener Thursday night against the New York Rangers.
The starter will instead be Alex Lyon.
Lyon signed a two-year deal with the Sabres this summer to be UPL's backup.
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Now, he's quickly pressed into duty.
The Sabres sent promising prospect Devon Levi back to AHL Rochester. Their other active goalie on Thursday night will be Colten Ellis, who was claimed off waivers earlier this week.
Lyon played for the Detroit Red Wings last season, and he had a 2.81 goals against average.
He looked like a solid backup when the Sabres signed him, but he'll have to be a starter at least for a little while, and there really isn't any great clarity yet on Luukkonen's injury and his return timeline.
For now, the Sabres will have to make what they've got work. That means counting on Lyon to be a solid shot stopper and leader in net.
If he can uphold his end of the bargain in the early going, the Sabres can start working toward ending their incredible drought.
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