Buffalo Sabres prospect Devon Levi looked more than sharp in his debut for the Rochester Americans, foreshadowing a successful stint.
Devon Levi’s stint with the Buffalo Sabres this season wasn’t so hot, so perhaps he would figure things out in Rochester. So far, Levi is 1 for 1, turning in a stellar outing in the Amerks win over the Belleville Senators.
Even better, it was a close goaltender duel all game, and it took a shootout to determine the winner. As we learned during his brief time in Buffalo dating back to last season, you don’t want to be facing Devon Levi in a shootout, because he will probably stop every would-be shot from finding the back of the net.
Levi was perfect in that endeavor, going 4 for 4 against Belleville’s skaters to secure a 3-2 win for the Amerks. Overall, Levi had 40 saves on 42 shots, and he also helped the Amerks shorthanded unit ward off an astounding eight power plays.
Devon Levi shines in Amerks debut, so what’s next?
Given the controlled chaos you often see in the AHL, it would be premature to think Levi would consistently play like he did in his debut last night. No, he’s not facing as much NHL-caliber talent in the AHL, but we have seen goaltenders give us encouraging results despite putting up numbers that make them look like they are anything but ready for the NHL.
This doesn’t mean Levi won’t have his moments and you can even expect a shutout or two this season unless he’s recalled to the NHL for any reason. Look for those games to occur, but ultimately, improving and refining skills play a key role in determining how successful one’s stint is in the AHL.
The Amerks are in action again tonight, but we probably won’t see Levi again until Friday when they host the Charlotte Checkers on December 8th. Rochester will then hit the road once more for a showdown against the Springfield Thunderbirds on the 13th.
(Statistics provided by Amerks.com)