What happened: The Buffalo Sabres are starting Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, ESPN reported. Luukkonen had not started a game since he was pulled late in Game 2 of Buffalo's first-round series against Boston.

Why it matters: Buffalo trails after a lopsided Game 3 loss to Montreal and is leaning back on its number-one goaltender to steady the series. Reinstalling Luukkonen signals the Sabres are betting on their established starter rather than riding the backup after a rough night, with the goaltending matchup likely to swing the rest of the round.

What to watch: Watch Luukkonen's first period for early traffic and rebound control after the long layoff. The result of Game 4 will determine whether the series shifts back to Buffalo tied or with the Sabres facing elimination math.