Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves for his second career shutout, while Casey Mittelstadt had a goal with two assists, during the Buffalo Sabres’ 3-0 home victory against the San Jose Sharks on Monday.
Mittelstadt had a hand in Alex Tuch’s second-period score and Jordan Greenway’s empty-netter, as Buffalo improved to 2-2-0 on a five-game homestand.
Meanwhile, Luukkonen was solid all afternoon for his second shutout of the season. In his second full NHL season, Luukkonen has stopped 132 of 139 shots faced during a 4-1-0 starting stretch.
Kaapo Kahkonen made 32 saves for San Jose, which was shut out for a league-high seventh time this season. Owners of an NHL-low 23 points, the Sharks have been outscored 64-24 during their current 1-14-0 rut.
Following an uneventful first period, the Sharks and Sabres picked up the offensive pace in the second.
With just under 11 minutes remaining in the middle frame, the shaft of Luukkonen’s stick saved Tomas Hertl’s turnaround chance. Seconds later, and off a nifty pass from Zach Benson, Mittelstadt’s point-blank snap shot was saved by Kahkonen, who stopped another up-close attempt from Kyle Okposo with 9:50 left in the second.
However, with 8:26 to go in the middle period, Mittelstadt was rewarded for his efforts. Going backhand, forehand, and with teammate Okposo providing a screen in front of the net, Mittelstadt — who leads the team with 38 points — sent the puck through the legs of two San Jose defenders and in.
Buffalo added on with 5:23 left in the second. On the game’s first power-play opportunity for either team, Mittelstadt got the puck to Jack Quinn, who sent a perfect pass into the middle of the slot for Tuch to successfully one-time past Kahkonen.
Luukkonen again robbed Hertl with 1:09 remaining in the second when he slid into position to stop a net-front backhander.
Then with 10:05 remaining in the third period, Luukkonen again came up big when he stopped Filip Zadina’s one-timer as a Sharks’ power play wound down.
–Field Level Media