Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games due to a lower-body injury. This unfortunate news comes as Team Finland has named Boston Bruins netminder Joonas Korpisalo as his replacement.
Luukkonen’s Season and Impact on Team Finland
Luukkonen, 26, has been sidelined since he left a 7-4 win against Toronto on January 27 at 12:14 of the first period. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff indicated earlier this week that Luukkonen is making progress but has not yet returned to on-ice activities. The absence of Luukkonen is significant, as he was one of three Sabres players selected for the Olympics, alongside defenseman Rasmus Dahlin for Sweden and forward Tage Thompson for the United States. This season, Luukkonen has posted an impressive record of 11 wins, 7 losses, and 2 overtime losses, with a goals-against average of 2.73 and a save percentage of .903 in 21 games (20 starts).
In light of Luukkonen’s injury, Korpisalo, who hails from Pori, Finland, joins a strong Finnish goaltending lineup that includes Juuse Saros and Kevin Lankinen. Additionally, defenseman Henri Jokiharju is also on the roster, further strengthening Team Finland’s chances in the tournament. This will mark Korpisalo’s first international tournament since the 2017 IIHF World Championship. He has a record of 10 wins, 8 losses, and 1 overtime loss this season, along with a goals-against average of 3.12, a save percentage of .895, and one shutout in 21 games (19 starts).
The NHL’s Olympic break is set to begin this Friday, with Finland opening the men’s hockey tournament against Slovakia on February 11 at 10:40 a.m. ET. Fans will be eager to see how Team Finland performs without their star goaltender Luukkonen, as they aim for Olympic glory in Milan.