Team Finland announced Tuesday that Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss the Olympics with a lower-body injury. He has been replaced on the roster by Boston Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

Luukkonen, 26, was on Finland’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off last February but didn’t play in a game. After a down year in 2024-25, Luukkonen has bounced back with a 2.73 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in 21 games for the Sabres this season. He’s dealt with a few injuries dating back to training camp and most recently left the Sabres’ Jan. 27 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs with a lower-body injury. He’s currently on injured reserve and will now have a chance to get healthy and help Buffalo continue its playoff push.

With Juuse Saros, 30, and Kevin Lankinen, 30, also on Finland’s roster, Luukkonen wasn’t guaranteed to see playing time in these Olympics. Saros is likely to get the first crack at Finland’s starting job, but both he and Lankinen got games at 4 Nations. Saros wasn’t sharp during that tournament. He started one game, a 6-1 loss to Team USA. In two total appearances, Saros finished with a 0-2 record, a 3.96 GAA and an .870 save percentage.

However, Lankinen didn’t do anything to win the job, either. He won one of his two starts but had a 4.84 GAA and an .811 save percentage in his two starts. In total, Finland allowed 13 goals in three games, the most of any team in the tournament.

That makes goaltending a legitimate question mark for Finland entering the Olympics. Saros has played 43 games for the Predators this season and has an .893 save percentage and 3.13 GAA — well below the numbers he posted at the height of his game a few years ago. After a breakout season for the Vancouver Canucks, Lankinen has struggled with a 3.62 GAA and an .877 save percentage in 31 games this season.

That could provide an opportunity for a third goalie to push for playing time, depending on how the tournament goes. In 21 games this season, Korpisalo, 31, has a 3.12 GAA and a .895 save percentage.

According to MoneyPuck’s goals saved above expected model, Korpisalo ranks the highest of Finland’s three goalies this season. Among the 51 goalies who have played at least 20 games this season, Korpisalo is 34th in goals saved above expected, while Lankinen is 42nd and Saros is 46th. If Finland is going to have a chance to compete for a medal, it will need better goaltending than it got at 4 Nations.