Alex Lyon Takes Game 6 Start for Buffalo Against Montreal Buffalo

Alex Lyon is back in goal for montreal buffalo in Game 6, and the Sabres have turned to him after changing starters again against the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo needs a win Saturday night to keep the series alive, while Montreal can move on to the Eastern Conference Final with a victory.

Lyon Back In Buffalo Net

The Sabres named Lyon their starter after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen opened Game 5 and then got pulled after two periods. Buffalo was down 5-3 at that point, and Luukkonen had allowed five goals on 23 shots.

Lyon’s own postseason run gives Buffalo a different look. He has made nine appearances and seven starts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, posting a 7-4-3 record with a 2.25 goals-against average and a.917 save percentage. He is 33 years old.

Luukkonen’s Game 5 Exit

Luukkonen opened the playoffs as Buffalo’s starter, but the Sabres have already shifted away from him once in this series against Montreal. He was also replaced by Lyon in the third period of Game 2 of the first round against the Boston Bruins, and Lyon stayed in net until Game 4 after giving up nine goals in the previous two games.

The numbers have moved in opposite directions. Luukkonen has four playoff appearances, a 2-2 record, a 4.20 goals-against average and a.851 save percentage. He is 27 years old, after a regular season in which he went 22-9-3 with a 2.52 goals-against average and a.910 save percentage in 35 games.

Power Expected To Play

Owen Power is expected to play after leaving the third period of Game 5, when he fell hard into the boards feet-first. He skated 21:52 before exiting and picked up an assist in the first period.

Power has five helpers in 11 postseason games and is averaging 20:44 of ice time. The Sabres will have seven defencemen skate pre-game in case he cannot go, giving Buffalo one more layer of insurance before puck drop at 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, with the broadcast starting at 7:30 p.m. ET and 4:30 p.m. PT.