Buffalo Sabres: Why is Devon Levi meditating in a different spot?
When the Buffalo Sabres took on the Boston Bruins two days ago, you may have noticed goaltender Devon Levi meditating elsewhere.
If you’ve watched the Buffalo Sabres play between March 31st and this past Thursday night, you may have noticed goaltender Devon Levi meditating during TV timeouts. He has always taken his routine to the slot, and he would remain kneeling until the game was about to go live again.
However, since crews take that time to clean the ice and they often skate up and around the slot, the NHL recently called and told Levi to move his meditation routine. And if you attended a live game with Levi as the starting goaltender, they had been working around him. But the rookie goaltender seems to be taking it all in stride.
“It kind of (stinks). That’s kind of the spot that I like, but it is what it is. Move with the punches that are thrown. I’m not sure if I’m going to stay there. I’m still trying to find some comfort in that spot. It doesn’t feel like home. We’ll see what happens.”
Source: Sabres goalie Devon Levi adjusting meditation routine after call from NHL by Lance Lysowski, Buffalo News
Regardless, it’s not the most desirable scenario for Levi. But of course, the NHL, much like the other major North American pro sports leagues, has stringent rules that they take a non-negotiable approach with, and it’s now clear that one’s chosen location for TV timeout meditation is no exception.
Where will the Buffalo Sabres goaltender take his in-game meditation routine?
During the Buffalo Sabres upset win over the Boston Bruins, Levi tested out a different location for the first time. In the embed below, you can see that the faceoff dot in the circle was the initial place he tried.
This has been going on for a few weeks, but Devon Levi is meditating in the faceoff dot instead of the slot.
— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) December 8, 2023
He confirmed to me yesterday that the NHL told him that he can’t do it in the slot anymore. @JeffMarek first to confirm that news item. pic.twitter.com/5vABYswGKw
After spending his entire amateur and NCAA career mediating in a single spot, it’s easy to sympathize why adjusting to a new place for his meditation routine would be no easy endeavor for the 21-year-old. So don’t be surprised if you see Levi test out a few more locations before he settles on a new spot, be it in the AHL or the NHL.
Wherever the Buffalo Sabres rookie decides to take his meditation routine, don’t expect it to affect his play if this past Thursday night’s game serves as an indication. Levi saved 29 of 30 shots on goal, and he was in vintage form, something we haven’t seen much of this season. New meditation location or not, Levi could just be poised for a breakthrough.
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Well before the end of the year, Levi will have found a new home during those TV timeouts, and his routine will normalize again. But if one thing is for certain, expect the hockey universe to take note of where he eventually chooses to meditate, and he will ultimately have his reasons behind settling on such a spot. There are many interesting endeavors going on in the world of hockey, and some of them happen to take place during the TV timeout.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)