Levi Sent Down To Rochester For Upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs

Sabres have no back-to-backs remaining in the regular season

The sports news in Buffalo is understandably being dominated by the Buffalo Bills surprising trade of wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans on Tuesday. The Buffalo Sabres after a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday are still mathematically alive in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, but with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen playing the last two games and there being no back-to-back games left on their schedule, the Sabres have sent goalie Devon Levi down to the Rochester Americans of the AHL.

Levi played two games after being recalled by the Sabres at the start of their Western road swing in mid-March. The 22-year-old made 31 saves in a 3-2 loss to Vancouver on March 19, relieved Luukkonen after he gave up four first-period goals and stopped 31 shots in a 6-2 loss to Ottawa last Wednesday, and made 28 saves in a 5-2 win over New Jersey on March 29^th.

"It's been a great experience (in Rochester). I feel like going into those important games and having everyone's trust to just go out and play, there's no better feeling," Levi said last week about his two-month stint. "Everyone wants to make it to the next level, but everyone wants to see each other succeed....just to be able to play consistently was also unbelievable. I can't use better words to describe my experience in Rochester.”

The Amerks are in a tight playoff race in the AHL’s North Division with a 33-22-9 record. Currently in third place with 75 points, Rochester is two points behind second-place Cleveland and play the Monsters at Blue Cross Arena on Wednesday night, and are only two points ahead of the fourth-place Toronto Marlies after their 6-3 win over Springfield on Wednesday afternoon.

Rochester with eight games remaining hopes to avoid falling into fourth place, which would force them into a best-of-three play-in round and with Levi (who had an 11-5-3 record, 2.52 GAA and .927 save percentage in 19 games) and other Sabres prospects possibly joining them later this month, the Amerks hope to make a long playoff run to get their youngsters some postseason experience.

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