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.