Luukkonen Practices, Could Be Ready For Season Opener

On Tuesday, Luukkonen was in the starter's net for most of the hour-long practice, which could be an indicator that he will be between the pipes for the club's season opener in Columbus on Thursday. The veteran netminder indicated that he left the game just to make sure that the discomfort he felt was nothing serious.

"I don't think it was necessarily anything; it was just more just precautionary," Luukkonen said. "I didn't want anything to get worse, kind of thing."

The Sabres had the opportunity to place a claim on a number of goaltenders placed on waivers on Sunday, but injuries to Luukkonen and Alex Lyon appear to be not as severe as once feared, but it is still possible that third-stringer Colten Ellis could get the call on Thursday.