Buffalo Sabres goalie Colten Ellis was scheduled to make his second NHL start Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was late scratch, however, which led Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make his season debut after recovering from a pair of preseason injuries.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after Monday's practice that Ellis, who's 25 years old, woke up Saturday with "old man back" and he couldn't shake the stiffness.
"He's not 19 anymore," Ruff jokingly told Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald. "He's older, and now the back tightens up."