MONTREAL – On Saturday afternoon in Belleville, hours before the Rochester Americans defeated the Senators 8-2, a black SUV picked up goalie Devon Levi and drove him about two hours across Ontario to Toronto.
The night before, Levi had made 27 saves in Rochester’s 7-4 win, improving his record to 7-1-1 with the Amerks. He has performed dynamically in the AHL, so the struggling Buffalo Sabres summoned him to spell No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
As the Sabres played a road game against the Washington Capitals they would lose 4-2, Levi, 22, settled into his hotel room and rested.
On Sunday afternoon, his recall became official, and in his first NHL start since Nov. 16, he looked sharp while making 36 saves in the Sabres’ 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
On Monday, the Sabres sent Levi back to the Amerks. He could, however, return soon.
Luukkonen will likely start Tuesday’s game against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Then the Sabres host the Leafs on Friday before going into the Christmas break with road games Saturday against the Boston Bruins and Monday versus the New York Islanders.
Veteran goalie James Reimer, having struggled in last Monday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings, could be passed over for another start.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see Levi recalled this weekend.
In the meantime, he could play for the Amerks in Wednesday’s home game against the Syracuse Crunch.
Since joining the Amerks last month to receive consistent action, Levi has compiled a 2.08 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and two shutouts in nine outings.
“It definitely helps being able to play consistently,” he said following Sunday’s game in Toronto. “Just getting to flow, think less, just play more, definitely helps a lot coming in today.”
Levi has registered a 2-6-0 mark with a 3.97 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage in eight games with the Sabres this season.