The Sabres are expected to have goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and center Joshua Norris back in the lineup when their schedule resumes against the Devils on Wednesday, according to the team’s daily injury report. They’ll need to come off injured reserve, but with two open roster spots, there won’t be any corresponding moves required.
Buffalo will get their highest-paid goaltender back for their playoff push after a lower-body injury ultimately prevented him from repping Finland at the Winter Olympics as planned. He departed a Jan. 27 start against the Maple Leafs in the first period with a lower-body injury and subsequently missed five games leading into the break. He returned to practice late last week, though, and has been a full participant since.
Luukkonen was deployed more as a starter for the final few weeks before his injury, but on the whole, he’s dropped down from the clear-cut No. 1 into more of a tandem rotation with journeyman Alex Lyon. The latter has arguably been one of the best free agent signings of 2025, delivering immense value on his $1.5MM cap hit with a 14-8-3 record, .912 SV%, and 2.72 GAA in 27 appearances.
Various injuries and increased competition from Colten Ellis as a result of Buffalo’s three-goalie rotation have limited Luukkonen to 21 appearances this year. However, he’s largely rebounded from a tough start and has put up above-average play on the whole. He’s logged an 11-7-2 record with a .902 SV%, 2.73 GAA, and 1.2 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. While he may not be starting Game 1 of a potential playoff series for the Sabres thanks to Lyon’s play, he’s still delivering dependable play at a $4.75MM cap hit that’s now more representative of a strong 1B option in today’s market anyway.
As for Norris, he’s been Buffalo’s best-producing forward not named Tage Thompson this season – when healthy, of course. Various upper-body concerns, the latest being a rib fracture, have continued to hamper his availability. He’s played just 22 games for the Sabres since being acquired from the Senators last season, but has been playing some of the best hockey of his career when dressed, notching six goals and 17 points in 19 outings this year.
He hasn’t played since Jan. 14, missing 12 games leading into the break. The absence would have been worse if not for the break in the schedule. He has, however, been skating since the end of last month and has been a full participant in practice since teams reconvened last week.