Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres started the season 3-1-0, but they had most of their lineup in against pretty much an AHL squad of the Pittsburgh Penguins and lost 5-3.

On Wednesday Buffalo looked like a team that was just trying to get the preseason over with and jump into the regular season.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made his first start of the preseason. Alexandar Georgiev said the plan was for Luukkonen to play the first two periods and Georgiev the third, but Luukkonen had to leave after 20 minutes stopping 11 of 12 shots. Lindy Ruff said,

“‘UPL’ felt good getting into the game and after he made a couple of saves he just didn’t feel quite right, so we took him out as a precaution and we’ll see where he’s at tomorrow. We really didn’t want to risk anything.”

Michael Kesselring went to the locker-room right before the second period ended and never returned. Ruff said,

“He’s had an aggravation that flared up and we’ll see where he’s at tomorrow too. He’s day-to-day, it’s nothing serious, it’s something he’s been dealing with the whole camp.”

Buffalo now has four of their six defensemen out injured. Kesselring joins Bo Byrum, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson on the sideline. Ruff isn’t concerned about that and thinks they’re going to be OK,

“I do, I feel Byrum’s ready to come back in, whether we play him or not, I think Power is really close to coming back in after a rehab skate. We don’t know where Kesselring will be at, but I feel pretty confident that we’re going to probably have them all back.”

Josh Norris had a pair of goals to give him three goals and two assists for five points in two preseason games. With Kesselring out Rasmus Dahlin played 27:07 and had a highlight reel power play goal in the third period.

I haven’t really liked what I’ve seen from Georgiev in his first three games. He hasn’t been the same goalie since he left the New York Rangers. In three preseason games he’s played 140 minutes, is 0-2-0 with a 3.43 goals against and .884 save percentage. He allowed five goals in Detroit and three more on Wednesday.

Buffalo has one more preseason game Friday in Pittsburgh when they’ll likely face the real Penguins with Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin.