Sharpen Up: May 3, 2021 | Islanders in town for back-to-back games

It's a Buffalo Sabres game night as the team opens up its final homestand of the season.
The New York Islanders are in town for games tonight and tomorrow at KeyBank Center. Faceoff tonight is set for 7 p.m. on MSG and WGR 550. Pregame coverage will begin at 6:30 on MSG.
We'll hear from interim head coach Don Granato later on after the team's morning skate.
Here's what you need to know.

A look back at Saturday's game

Sabres rookie goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left Saturday afternoon's game against the Boston Bruins after the second period with what appeared to be a lower-body injury. Stay tuned to Sabres.com, the team's official social media platforms and the new Sabres app for news throughout the day.
Luukkonen had made 26 saves on 29 shots to that point, but the Bruins came on strong in the third period to win 6-2 at TD Garden. Read the full Postgame Report here.

Granato did not have an update on Luukkonen's status after the game.
"That's added on to the tough day," Granato said. "It was a tough day all around and that's obviously a big one because this is a great opportunity for him to get some minutes and now that's in question. He battled tonight. Like I said, every now and then you have a really tough day. Everybody had a really tough day today."
Dustin Tokarski came in to start the third period and stopped 11 of 14 shots.

Riley Sheahan and Arttu Ruotsalainen scored for the Sabres.
Craig Smith led the Bruins with a hat trick.
"A lot of goals came from self-inflicted mistakes and we weren't on our game," Sheahan said. "They were bearing down. Just the little battles and little things that you do to win games, we weren't doing. I guess we got it handed to us."
Read more here.

Tonight's matchup

Let's take a look at @SabresPR's Game Notes:

Miller goes out on top

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller made 23 saves to win the final start of his NHL career last night. The 40-year-old netminder, who is the Sabres' franchise leader in wins and saves, announced his retirement last week.
During his time in Buffalo (which ended in February 2014), Miller made a deep connection with the community that's still felt to this day.

Sabres.com spoke with those associated with the Courage of Carly Fund and how Miller would go the extra mile to visit with kids and families impacted by cancer.

The partnership between Miller's Steadfast Foundation and Carly's Club was no secret during his tenure in Buffalo. He donated a suite to patients from Roswell for every Sabres home game and was recognized with the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2010.
But the extent of Miller's involvement goes beyond the public sphere. Nusbaum recalls a quiet, somewhat introverted goaltender who first reached out to her during his early days in Buffalo evolving into a regular presence who could show himself around the hospital without her assistance.
"He was just Ryan," Robin Nusbaum said. "He was so down to Earth, and he would just chat like a normal guy to all of the kids and all their parents. They started to get to know him more as Ryan the person rather than Ryan the goalie or Ryan the hockey player. It was really unique to see that because they had personal stories, they had personal relationships. They had a unique connection that a lot of people maybe weren't privy to.
"He was just a really cool guy that wanted to come by and visit the hospital. In a way, he just happened to be a really awesome hockey player."
You can read the full story here.

Bald for Bucks recap

Dan Dunleavy, Martin Biron and Rochester Americans assistant coach Mike Weber went "Bald For Bucks" during Saturday's broadcast on MSG.
The Sabres once again partnered with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and their Bald for Bucks initiative to raise funds for critical cancer research and patient-care programs.
Thanks to everyone who donated or participated!