Levi - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Tage Thompson, Devon Levi dazzle as Sabres roar back to beat Devils

BUFFALO – As Sabres center Tage Thompson recently began to showcase his slick, often dominant form again, a dynamic night like Friday’s four-goal performance felt inevitable.

Following an underwhelming four months, Thompson has looked like the budding superstar who scored 47 goals and 94 points last season.

In Friday’s come-from-behind 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, Thompson buoyed the Sabres, scoring a natural hat trick – two goals in the second period and the ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: JJ Peterka earning keep on top line; Michael Houser injured with Rochester

BUFFALO – Before JJ Peterka moved up last week, the left wing spot on the Sabres’ top line alongside center Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch had been a revolving door.

Jeff Skinner, who usually occupies that spot, has struggled and moved around the lineup. So coach Don Granato has utilized Jordan Greenway, Zemgus Girgensons and even Eric Robinson there this month.

Peterka, who scored an empty-net goal in Friday’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey ... Read the full article

How Sabres’ Devon Levi seized chance in Rochester, became better goalie

BUFFALO – Instead of chasing the highest levels growing up, Sabres goalie Devon Levi chose to play where he would enjoy the best opportunity to develop his craft.

For example: in 2019-20, his draft season, he tended goal in the Central Canada Hockey League, a circuit that produces some NHL talent but is overshadowed by the major junior Canadian Hockey League.

“It’s a good league, but it wasn’t up there on the radar,” Levi said ... Read the full article

Sabres, UPL struggle early in ugly loss to Senators: ‘We let him down’

BUFFALO – Over the past three months, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has not only morphed into the Sabres’ backbone, he has emerged one of the NHL’s elite goalies.

Luukkonen’s dynamic netminding is the biggest reason the Sabres still have a minuscule chance – basically win their final nine games and get a lot of help – of grabbing the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot and ending their 12-year playoff drought.

So as the Finn struggled mightily ... Read the full article

Rochester signs Sabres goalie prospect Scott Ratzlaff to amateur tryout

The Rochester Americans on Wednesday signed Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Scott Ratzlaff to an amateur tryout.

Ratzlaff’s junior team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, did not qualify for the Western Hockey League playoffs.

Right now, the Amerks need another goalie. The Sabres recently recalled rookie Devon Levi. Meanwhile, veteran Dustin Tokarski did not play over the weekend after battling through an undisclosed problem in last Wednesday’s 6-5 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Update: Tokarski came off ... Read the full article

Sabres recall goalie prospect Devon Levi from Rochester

DETROIT – Rookie goalie Devon Levi is back with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres on Saturday recalled Levi, 22, from the Rochester Americans following their 4-1 loss to the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.

Levi, who has played 20 games for the Sabres this season, is expected to start Monday in Seattle against the Kraken or Tuesday in Vancouver versus Canucks.

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played four straight games and 24 of the ... Read the full article

UPL stars as Sabres blank Islanders, move toward playoff spot

BUFFALO – OK, now goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the surging Sabres are making things really interesting.

Thursday’s 4-0 win over the New York Islanders moved them to within three points of the Isles, who own the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot.

Who would’ve thought last week, when the Sabres dealt leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt and captain Kyle Okposo during their three-game losing streak, they’d suddenly vault into the thick of the playoff chase?... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen feeding off heavy workload, earning spot among NHL’s elite

BUFFALO – Following a rare breather a week ago, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has resumed one of the NHL’s heaviest workloads as the Sabres’ No. 1 goalie.

Tonight against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center, Luukkonen, 25, is expected to start his third straight game. The Finn has earned the nod in 11 of the last 12 contests and 21 of the last 24 since Jan. 11.

Luukkonen has played an NHL-high 22 times during that ... Read the full article

Casey Mittelstadt’s status made trading for coveted Bowen Byram possible

BUFFALO – Kevyn Adams said he never shopped Casey Mittelstadt around the NHL. No, the Sabres general manager said, the center’s emergence made him a sought-after asset.

When other GMs called him to ask about Mittelstadt, his leading scorer, he made it clear he was willing to listen and think about possible scenarios.

Adams said he had been working for a couple of years to find a young, top-pair defenseman. Those type of defenders, of ... Read the full article

Sabres recall goalie from Rochester

The Buffalo Sabres this morning recalled veteran goalie Dustin Tokarski from the Rochester Americans to give them some insurance in net.

Granato said the Sabres have been dealing with illness. They did not practice Wednesday as a precaution.

“With how certain guys felt, we needed to make sure we were covered for this morning in the event more flared up,” Granato told reporters in St. Petersburg.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start tonight’s road game ... Read the full article