Levi - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres wingers JJ Peterka, Alex Tuch starring at World Championship

In the second period of Team Germany’s 5-0 victory Tuesday, JJ Peterka roared through the neutral zone before splitting two Team France defenders and slickly scoring his fourth goal of the World Championship.

Peterka, who recently completed his rookie season with the Buffalo Sabres, has enjoyed a stellar tournament, recording a team-high nine points and a plus-eight rating in seven games. Right now, the winger’s tied for third in tournament scoring.

The Sabres, of course, ... Read the full article

After taste of NHL, Sabres goalie Devon Levi returns to school, plays for Canada

BUFFALO – When Sabres goalie Devon Levi returned to Northeastern last month to finish the semester, coach Jerry Keefe chatted with his former player one day in the Huskies’ lounge.

Levi, 21, had just made the difficult jump from college hockey to the NHL, winning five of his seven starts as the Sabres made a memorable push and fell one victory shy of earning a playoff berth.

It’s not unusual for teams to award forwards ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Isak Rosen catching fire for Amerks in playoffs

Instead of talking to Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen about his first taste of the Calder Cup Playoffs, Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert and his staff wanted to hear from the rookie.

“What did he learn? What did he take away from those experiences?” Appert said on a Zoom call Friday. “Those are the best developmental moments, is when they own their development and we can poke questions and prod them, but they’re the ones ... Read the full article

Malcolm Subban’s terrific season with Amerks could keep him in Sabres’ plans

ROCHESTER – Americans goalie Malcolm Subban chose to talk more about the team than himself.

Subban performed splendidly in Sunday afternoon’s 4-0 win over the Syracuse Crunch, making 31 saves in the Amerks’ first shutout in the Calder Cup Playoffs in 19 years. At 29, he has enjoyed a terrific comeback season, playing a career-high 43 games, including all four playoff contests, for the Buffalo Sabres’ AHL affiliate.

Following a subpar outing in Friday’s 8-5 ... Read the full article

After unique season, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie’s future in Buffalo unclear

BUFFALO – Nothing could ruin Eric Comrie’s season. Not the goalie’s first significant injury. Not losing the starting job or falling to fourth on the Sabres’ depth chart.

He played just eight of the final 65 games after going down in mid-November. In one of his appearances, he allowed 10 goals. Following rookie goalie Devon Levi’s arrival, he did not play in the final nine contests.

Comrie, 27, faces an uncertain future. Levi, ... Read the full article

Sabres wanted Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to develop in Buffalo instead of going to Rochester for playoffs

BUFFALO – In his four-year pro career, Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has never played a postseason game.

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs two straight years. Last year, Luukkonen suffered an injury late in the regular season and missed the Rochester Americans’ 10-game playoff run.

This year, the Sabres did not make Luukkonen, who started the season in Rochester, available to the Amerks, who open the playoffs Friday.

... Read the full article

Despite using Devon Levi late, Sabres high on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

BUFFALO – In his first days in the NHL, Sabres goalie Devon Levi looked so impressive that coach Don Granato kept riding the neophyte.

Levi, 21, turned heads in his debut March 31, so after starting Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen the next night, Granato utilized the newcomer for five consecutive do-or-die games before the Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention.

The Sabres’ reliance on Levi for a stretch of critical late-season contests raised some eyebrows. The ... Read the full article

With Devon Levi in Buffalo, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen still sees future with Sabres

BUFFALO – As the Sabres fought furiously for their first playoff berth in 12 years, goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen figured he’d be called upon for a critical late-season game.

Luukkonen, after all, led the team in wins as a rookie this season. He played 33 contests, emerging as the starter following his recall in mid-November. He performed so well the Sabres kept three goalies on the roster for nearly three months.

The Finn won huge games ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Alex Tuch excited to represent Team USA with brother, Luke

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Alex Tuch is almost six years older than his brother, Luke, so they’ve never had an opportunity to play together on the same hockey team.

That, however, is about to change.

Tuch, 26, said Saturday that he and his brother will be representing Team USA at the World Championship in Latvia. The tournament opens May 12 in Finland and Latvia.

... Read the full article

Popular Sabres goalie Craig Anderson could be nearing retirement

BUFFALO – Pierre Groulx remembers Craig Anderson looked a bit unorthodox in his crease. Instead going down in the butterfly like many modern goalies, he might stand up to stop a shot. The two-pad stack was part of his repertoire.

“He was more of the old school style,” said Groulx, who first served as Anderson’s goalie coach with the Florida Panthers from 2006 to 2008. “… He was one of those guys that read the ... Read the full article