PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen‘s shaky December is behind him.
The Buffalo goaltender stopped 40 shots and Zemgus Girgensons jammed a loose puck by Tristan Jarry late in the third period to lift the Sabres by the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on Saturday night.
“I think that was the most confident, poised I’ve seen him play in his whole career,” Buffalo forward Alex Tuch said of Luukkonen. “He’s got a shutout or two, but that was just so much confidence (tonight).”
Tuch’s 10th goal of the season on a breakaway in the first period gave Buffalo an early lead. Rasmus Dahlin provided some insurance with a long flip into an empty Pittsburgh net just as Jarry headed to the bench for an extra skater as the Sabres won for just their second time in their last nine visits to PPG Paints Arena.
“I’ve said it for weeks now, it’s a mentality,” Sabres coach Don Granato said. “Talked about (us playing with) some mojo, some swagger. We didn’t have that and we played with fear. Tonight, you don’t come through that game unless you have that swagger and fearlessness.”
Luukkonen won his second straight start following a stretch from Nov. 30-Dec. 23 in which he went 0-5-1 and allowed at least four goals four times.
The 24-year-old from Finland also received a bit of help from his coaches when the Sabres successfully challenged a pair of Pittsburgh goals in the first period.
Drew O’Conner’s tap-in from in front was waved off after a replay showed Sidney Crosby was offside as the Penguins entered the zone.
Pittsburgh had a second goal taken away when officials ruled Penguins forward Jake Guentzel interfered with Luukkonen while redirecting a shot by Crosby. Guentzel did appear to brush against Luukkonen as the puck entered the crease.
“A couple of goals against that ended up going back and (Luukkonen) didn’t get rattled at all,” Tuch said. “He went right back in there, made a couple big saves on breakaways. Never wavered.”
Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said Guentzel did make light contact with Luukkonen but didn’t think it affected the outcome of the play.
“Based on that decision, our coaching staff needs to take a long look at the criteria of our understanding of what (interference) is,” Sullivan said.
The Penguins did eventually tie it when Rickard Rakell scored near the end of a two-man advantage 7:49 into the third. Pittsburgh continued to press but Luukkonen held firm and the Sabres broke through with 4:38 remaining when…