Sabres' Luukkonen to miss Olympics due to injury

Buffalo goalie's lower-body issue will keep him out of upcoming Milano Cortina Games

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy due to a lower-body injury. Team Finland has named Boston Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo as Luukkonen's replacement for the international tournament, which begins on February 11th. Luukkonen has been sidelined since getting hurt early in the Sabres' 7-4 road win over the Toronto Maple Leafs last Tuesday.

Why it matters

Luukkonen's absence is a significant blow for the Finnish national team, as he was expected to be their starting goaltender at the Olympics. The 23-year-old has been a rising star for the Sabres this season, compiling an 11-7-2 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in 21 games. His injury raises concerns about the Sabres' goaltending depth as they push for a playoff spot.

The details

Luukkonen suffered the lower-body injury early in the Sabres' January 31st game against the Maple Leafs. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said last week that Luukkonen would miss at least one week due to the issue. In addition to Luukkonen, the Sabres will also be represented at the Olympics by captain Rasmus Dahlin (Team Sweden) and center Tage Thompson (Team USA).

  • Luukkonen was injured early in the Sabres' January 31st game against the Maple Leafs.
  • Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said last week that Luukkonen would miss at least one week due to the injury.
  • Team Finland named Joonas Korpisalo as Luukkonen's replacement on February 4th.
  • The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy begin on February 11th.

The players

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

A 23-year-old goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres who was expected to be the starting goalie for the Finnish national team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Joonas Korpisalo

A goaltender for the Boston Bruins who has been named as Luukkonen's replacement on the Finnish Olympic team.

Rasmus Dahlin

The captain of the Buffalo Sabres who will represent Team Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Tage Thompson

A center for the Buffalo Sabres who will play for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Lindy Ruff

The head coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Luukkonen's injury highlights the challenges of maintaining goaltending depth in the NHL, especially with key international tournaments like the Olympics on the horizon. The Sabres will need to rely on their other netminders to step up in Luukkonen's absence as they push for a playoff spot.