Rookie made 41 saves in a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Friday
Rookie made 41 saves in a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Friday
The Buffalo Sabres have climbed back into the Eastern Conference playoff race and face a critical match on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena, at the start of a five-game road swing through the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, and at a critical point in their schedule, the club will be recalling goaltender Devon Levi from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League according to Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News.
The Sabres have won three straight and have climbed to within three points of the Wings and Isles this week, with goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen winning all three games. Luukkonen has started 23 of the last 24 games since early January. In that time frame, he has the most wins in the NHL(14), the best goals-against average (1.91), and save percentage (.929), and after a 4-0 shutout of the Islanders on Thursday, is second in the league with five shutouts.
With Buffalo playing three games in four nights, including back-to-back contests in Seattle and Vancouver on Monday and Tuesday, the Sabres are bringing back the 22-year-old rookie instead of playing backup Eric Comrie, who has started only twice since Luukkonen took over as the starter; a 4-0 loss to Florida on February 15, and a 4-2 loss in Nashville on March 7.
Levi has played very well in the AHL since being demoted to get regular playing time, with an 11-5-3 record, 2.52 GAA, and .927 save % in 19 starts. He won his fourth straight with the Amerks on Friday in a 41-save effort in a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Marlies, and the recall is likely only temporary, with the Sabres schedule spread out until the end of the month.
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