The Buffalo Sabres lead the NHL in penalty kill percentage (91.2%) early in the 2025-26 season, but how they arrived at that number is a much bigger story.
Buffalo's three goalies — Alex Lyon, Colten Ellis and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen — have combined to post an astonishing .952 save percentage on the penalty kill. It's the single biggest reason the team's managed to post a 4-4-2 record despite mediocre 5-on-5 performance.
Lyon, who's started eight of the Sabres' first 10 games, has been terrific when the club is playing a man (or two) down with 56 saves on 59 shots.