Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – A few weeks ago, the Buffalo Sabres played a complete game, but lost to the New York Rangers, 2-1, in overtime. Buffalo defended well with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal, and threw the house at Igor Shesterkin, who made a number of quality saves.
For this game, it’s the much anticipated NHL debut of goaltender Devon Levi.
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There hasn’t been this much excitement and anticipation in Buffalo for a goaltender’s debut since Ryan Miller played his first game on Nov. 22, 2002 against the New Jersey Devils. In that game, Miller faced 25 shots, allowing four goals in 61:20 of work.
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Before being traded to the Sabres as part of the Sam Reinhart deal, Levi was a surprise to make Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship, and a surprise to be Canada’s starting goalie. He only allowed five goals in seven games, and helped Canada to a silver medal.
Levi then went on to play two years at Northeastern University and was college hockey’s best goalie in both seasons.
Owen Power was on Canada’s Olympic team in 2022 with Levi. He says it’s important to have a good team concept in front of him on Friday.
"With a new goalie, we’re going to have to be good defensively," Power said on Friday. "We need to go in there and dial in the details.
"In the last game we played against them, I thought we had a pretty solid game. Hopefully we can do that again."
The morning skate was optional on Friday. Defenseman Mattias Samuelsson took part for Buffalo, while forward Tage Thompson did not. Head coach Don Granato called both players a game-time decision.
In its last three games, Buffalo has picked up five of six points, but the one point they didn’t pick up was inexcusable. The Sabres had a 3-2 lead over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday and lost in a shootout.
If you want to be a playoff team, that just can’t happen. They also were bad at defending again, allowing 41 shots on goal.
The Rangers have won seven out of nine games, but lost Thursday to the New Jersey Devils.
Since Shesterkin played that game, it’s likely Jaroslav Halak getting the start against the Sabres. Halak has only given up three goals in his last two games. Overall this season, he’s 10-8-3 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
Before the trade deadline, the Rangers picked up two superstars.
Pat Kane has played 14 games with New York, scoring five goals and four assists for nine points. Vladimir Tarasenko has played 24 games, netting six goals and nine assists for 15 points.
The Rangers are expecting a lot more from both players they spent assets for.
New York's hottest player has been Mika Zibanejad with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 17 games.
Join Schopp and the Bulldog for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. ET when you’ll hear from Granato, Levi and Power.
