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Buffalo Sabres: 3 potential outcomes for Devon Levi’s debut

By Sion Fawkes

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Devon Levi #1 of the Northeastern Huskies celebrates with the Beanpot trophy after a victory against the Harvard Crimson during NCAA hockey in the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 13, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The game officially ended in a 2-2 tie with the Huskies winning the shootout 1-0 to capture the title. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Devon Levi #1 of the Northeastern Huskies celebrates with the Beanpot trophy after a victory against the Harvard Crimson during NCAA hockey in the championship game of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 13, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The game officially ended in a 2-2 tie with the Huskies winning the shootout 1-0 to capture the title. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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After over a year of anticipation, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi will make his NHL debut tonight against the New York Rangers.

The Buffalo Sabres are pegging Devon Levi to start against the mighty New York Rangers in what could be a memorable game on many fronts. Or, it could be a disaster. Those are the two extremes, and you can make the argument for either one.

Or, Levi could have a good, not great game, and at least give fans hope that he can be the future of the franchise. Let’s explore all three potential results for tonight, and I’ll give you a prediction on what will happen.

Potential outcomes in Buffalo Sabres goaltender’s debut

1 – Sabres get blown out

Although the Blue and Gold have played better hockey lately, it still doesn’t erase how unbelievably bad they looked throughout most of the month. In this outcome, the Sabres find themselves under too much pressure and the Rangers overwhelm them in a game that’s reminiscent of that 7-0 loss to Boston the other week.

Obviously, this isn’t the ideal outcome. But if it occurs, we don’t need to rush to judgment. One game won’t make or break anyone’s career.

2 – Sabres string together a convincing win

The Buffalo Sabres know Devon Levi is in the net and they exercise a sense of urgency. They play similarly to how they have defensively over the past three contests, and closer to how they looked against the New York Islanders.

Not that it would give Levi a shutout win in his NHL debut, though that would be pretty cool, but it would give him one to remember for all the right reasons. This is the ideal, but not the likeliest outcome, unfortunately.

3 – Levi plays a solid, but unspectacular game

If you asked me to make a prediction, this would be it, that Levi will snag something close to a 0.905 save percentage, giving up one to two goals that he should have saved, while the Sabres give him help defensively, but will break down every now and again.

He will pull off spectacular, highlight-reel saves, and have one moment where he channels his inner-Dominik Hasek. Sure, you can expect a better performance than what Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been putting on lately, but not as good as what we’ve seen from Eric Comrie over the past two contests.

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Such a performance, however, will give Levi something to build on. And that should encourage all fans.

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