MONTREAL — Coach Lindy Ruff is planning significant lineup adjustments for the Buffalo Sabres ahead of Tuesday’s Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens. Based on the morning skate, the team is expected to switch goaltenders, introduce a rookie forward, and bring in a veteran defenseman.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the sole netminder working with the starting group during the skate, a strong sign he will take over from Alex Lyon. Lyon started the first seven games of the postseason after Luukkonen opened the playoffs as the starter, but Luukkonen struggled in Game 2 against Boston, allowing a bouncing goal from center ice. Lyon played well in the remainder of that series but has surrendered nine goals over the last two outings against Montreal.
Rookie Konsta Helenius, who turned 20 on Monday, skated on a line and is poised to make his NHL playoff debut. The Sabres’ forward lines at practice were as follows:
– Line 1: Peyton Krebs, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch
– Line 2: Zach Benson, Josh Norris, Josh Doan
– Line 3: Jason Zucker, Konsta Helenius, Jack Quinn
– Line 4: Jordan Greenway, Ryan McLeod, Beck Malenstyn
This marks the first time Ruff has split up the Zucker-McLeod-Quinn trio. While Ruff declined to confirm any changes, he praised Helenius as a talented offensive player who produced at a point-per-game clip in the AHL and has excelled in playoffs at every level. If Helenius plays, it would be his 10th NHL game this season, burning a year of his entry-level contract.
“I play a physical game,” Helenius said earlier in the series. “I’m not the biggest guy, but I like to play hard and get the emotion of the game. It’s best of seven; every play matters. You want to show everyone you can play.”
On defense, Luke Schenn looks to enter the lineup, skating on a pair with Conor Timmins in place of Logan Stanley, who struggled in Game 3. Both Schenn and Timmins also took penalty-kill reps. When asked about Schenn’s role, Ruff replied, “How do you know he’s going in?”
Schenn, 36, brings 58 games of playoff experience and two Stanley Cup rings from his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres have struggled against Montreal’s speed and defending the front of the net, areas where Schenn’s physical, net-front presence should help. He also is willing to stand up for teammates, which could be crucial as the series grows more heated.
Schenn has not played in the playoffs yet for Buffalo, having dressed in only four games since being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline. He was brought in for his championship experience and now faces the challenge of staying ready with limited ice time.
“It’s not the first time I’ve been in this situation where you just have to stay patient and stay ready,” Schenn said. “It happened to me in Tampa the first year—I didn’t play at all in the first series and got going in the second. You work with the coaches and keep yourself as ready as you can.”
