Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 24 saves for his first career shutout as the host Buffalo Sabres handed the Colorado Avalanche their second straight shutout loss, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon.

Luukkonen, playing in his 49th career NHL game and making his 47th start, received a little help from the goalpost midway through the third period when Nathan MacKinnon's backhand shot caromed off it.

JJ Peterka, Casey Mittelstadt, Tyson Jost and Rasmus Dahlin scored and Jeff Skinner had two assists for Buffalo, which snapped a five-game home losing streak to the Avalanche.

Alexandar Georgiev finished with 25 saves for Colorado. The Avalanche began the season with six straight victories before having their NHL-record, 15-game road winning streak snapped with a 4-0 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Buffalo took a 1-0 lead midway through the first when Peterka scooped up a rebound in the slot and wristed a knuckler under Georgiev's glove for his fourth goal of the season.

Mittelstadt made it 2-0 early in the second period, leading a rush down the left wing on a 3-on-1 break and then firing a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle into the near top corner.

The Sabres extended their lead to 3-0 at the 8:16 mark later in the period on a one-timer by Jost off Alex Tuch's pass for his first goal of the season.

Colorado pulled Georgiev for an extra attacker with 3:30 remaining and Dahlin sealed the win with an empty-netter 22 seconds later to extend his point streak to eight games.

The Avalanche survived a scary moment with 5:58 to go in the second when star defenseman Cale Makar landed awkwardly against the end boards after a shove by Kyle Okposo. No penalty was called on the play.

Makar, whose right knee took the brunt of the hit against the bottom of the boards, eventually skated off the ice under his own power and returned to play in the final period.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Timberwolves chew up Nuggets to force Game 7
Rangers secure spot in conference finals after stunning third-period comeback over Hurricanes
Xander Schauffele makes history in first round of PGA Championship
Yankees' Hal Steinbrenner shares massive Juan Soto contract update
Steelers' Cameron Heyward addresses contract holdout
Knicks star ruled out for potential closeout game
Dodgers starter undergoes season-ending UCL surgery
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney gives smug response about not using transfer portal
Caitlin Clark's debut was most-watched WNBA game in more than 20 years
Watch: Chris Kreider's natural third-period hat trick shatters Hurricanes' comeback hopes
Veteran NFL safety will either play for this team or retire in 2024
Former Red Wings head coach linked to open NHL job
How Patriots' Drake Maye has already impressed Jacoby Brissett
LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry among Forbes' highest-paid athletes for 2024
Steve Cohen addresses if Mets could again be trade-deadline sellers
Tiger Woods ruins strong first round with sloppy finish at PGA Championship
NFL responds to speculation about Chiefs schedule and Taylor Swift
Despite hopes for change, NASCAR championship weekend will return to Phoenix in 2025
Chiefs will achieve something not done since 1927 with 2024 schedule
Yankees' Aaron Judge comments on resurgence after bad slump

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.