Goalie Alex Lyon's fiery demeanor fuels Buffalo Sabres surge into 2nd round of the playoffs

TL;DR

Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon's competitive spirit has propelled the team into the second round of the playoffs, showcasing his impressive performance and leadership. Lyon has a 1.3 goals-against average and .950 save percentage this postseason.

Key points

Alex Lyon's competitive spirit fuels Buffalo Sabres' playoff success
Lyon has a 1.3 goals-against average and .950 save percentage
He became the starting goalie after Luukkonen's struggles
Lyon's journey includes playing for five NHL teams
He helped end the Sabres' 14-year playoff drought

Buffalo SabresAlex LyonBoston BruinsMontreal Canadiens

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — It wasn’t satisfying enough for Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon to have Viktor Arvidsson’s penalty shot glance off his blocker and deflect wide of the net. Lyon decided to pile on the forward's grief. He began chirping a few words at Arvidsson following the failed attempt that prevented the Boston Bruins from building on a 1-0 lead in Buffalo's eventual 3-1 win in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The moment and Lyon’s response, coming in his first career playoff start for Buffalo, captured the fearless and competitive approach the 33-year-old goalie has developed over a journeyman career. “I think when you’re young, it’s easy to get intimidated by the moment,” Lyon said. “But once you start thinking about it in terms of the game, it’s about wining and losing at the end of the day. And that’s the only thing I’m trying to do,” he added. “It’s just gamesmanship.” It’s an attitude that’s earned Lyon the starting duties in taking over after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen struggled in a 4-2 loss in Game 2 loss to Boston. Lyon's gone 4-1 since, including a 26-save outing in a 4-2 win in Buffalo’s second-round series' opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.

Lyon posting elite numbers in playoffs

Entering Game 2 on Friday night, Lyon’s 1.3 goals-against average and .950 save percentage rank second among players with five or more starts this postseason. And it follows Lyon's first Sabres season in which he went 20-10-4 splitting the starting duties and helping the Buffalo end and win its first Atlantic Division title. Very little appears to rattle Lyon. Or rather, the goalie said, he does his best to hide it. “It’s all about perception,” Lyon said. “It probably dawned on me five or six years ago, that if you just continue to keep pushing through the bad times, it will always turn around for the better.” The philosophy has carried him through a nine-year pro career spanning five NHL teams. Lyon is relentless in refusing to give up on plays even when out of position, and included him doing a near-somersault to get from one post to the other and get a piece of ’s shot in the first round. Add in his engaging and upbeat personality, and Lyon has endeared himself to his team. “I really love guys like that, hates to lose and wants their opponents to look bad. I really feed off that,” captain said. “He loves big moments. That’s when he thrives.” Coach Lindy Ruff called Lyon’s approach “infectious.” “Every goalie has their own personality, and his personality has a lot of fire in it. He’s a character and it’s something the group likes,” Ruff said. “I don’t even know if I’ve seen him have a bad day.” Lyon admits to having plenty of bad days. But they come with territory, much like accepting he’s not going to stop every shot. From Baudette, Minnesota, Lyon was an undrafted free-agent out of Yale upon signing with the . He went 6-7-2 in five years in Philadelphia, and split the next four seasons between Carolina, and , where he went 35-27-6 over two seasons. He went 1-2 in four playoff appearances with Florida’s Stanley Cup Final-losing team in 2023, though Lyon was only filling in for injured starter .

Q&A

What are Alex Lyon's playoff statistics for the Buffalo Sabres?

Alex Lyon has a 1.3 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage in the playoffs.

How did Alex Lyon become the starting goalie for the Sabres?

Lyon became the starting goalie after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen struggled in Game 2 against the Boston Bruins.

What impact has Alex Lyon had on the Buffalo Sabres' playoff run?

Lyon's fiery demeanor and strong performances have been crucial in leading the Sabres to the second round of the playoffs.

What teams has Alex Lyon played for in his NHL career?

Lyon has played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, and now the Buffalo Sabres.