Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for the month of January.
Luukkonen led all rookie goaltenders in January with nine starts, going 6-2-1 in that span. He also finished the month with a .907 save percentage, posting 30-or-more saves five times. This includes a 39-save performance in their 6-5 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild back on Jan. 7.
One of Luukkonen's biggest saves came this month back on Jan. 19 when he made a game-saving stop with seconds remaining in a 2-2 game against the New York Islanders. That resulted in an overtime period, in which the Sabres quickly won with a Dylan Cozens goal.
In his 20 games started this season, Luukkonen has posted a 13-5-2 record with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.
The Sabres finish off a tough portion of the schedule against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday before entering a 10-day break for the NHL All-Star Game and their bye week.
