Sabres sophomore goalie is 2-5-0, with a 3.95 GAA, and .870 save %.
The welcome news at Buffalo Sabres practice on Monday was goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen appearing unhindered after sitting out two games with a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old has been the mainstay for the Sabres between the pipes this season, making 11 of their 17 starts and posting a 6-4-1 record.
Luukkonen’s absence opened up an opportunity for sophomore Devon Levi, who had made only four starts in the first month of the regular season, but the youngster allowed two goals on four shots relieving Luukkonen in the 7-5 loss to Montreal, appeared shaky in the 4-3 OT win over St. Louis on Thursday, and allowed four goals on 31 shots in the 5-2 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday.
The reclaiming of James Reimer off of waivers last week gave the Sabres the opportunity of giving the 22-year-old some regular work in the AHL while the veteran backed up Luukkonen this week during a three-game road swing through California, and on Wednesday, head coach Lindy Ruff announced that Levi was being sent down to the Rochester Americans.
“He needs to play. It’s the first time in his career that he’s dealt with (playing) one game in a month,” Ruff said. "That's not easy on a young goaltender, because you need to find some rhythm. You need to see that game-like chaos, which you don't get in practice. I just had a great conversation with him. Nobody likes to go down, but he's wants to play, too."
The Amerks play three times while the Sabres are in California; in Laval on Wednesday, and back-to-back home games against Hershey and Utica. Levi will likely make two of those starts, but it was not made clear whether he will be recalled immediately after that or stay down for a longer period of time.
Rochester's leading scorer Isak Rosen was recalled with the roster move to demote Levi. Rosen has 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 14 games and is likely insurance in case Alex Tuch (who did not practice on Monday) cannot play.
GM Kevyn Adams and Ruff both indicated during training camp that the Sabres would need two goalies to help the club make the postseason for the first time since 2011, but with Ruff going primarily with Luukkonen, that has clearly affected Levi’s development and him getting regular work in the AHL, even in the short-term, makes the most sense.
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