Levi - Buffalo Hockey Beat

With Devon Levi healthy, Sabres will likely rotate goalies

BUFFALO – When the season began, the Sabres wanted goalie Devon Levi to experience the harshness of a long NHL schedule, so the rookie started four straight games.

“I wanted him to feel some grind and quick preparation and quick turnaround and battle,” Sabres coach Don Granato said following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “So I think he gained a lot of experience from that that’s going to help him the rest of his career, ... Read the full article

Alex Tuch breaks loose late in Sabres’ win over Maple Leafs; Dylan Cozens misses game with injury

TORONTO – No, it wasn’t quite a piano off Alex Tuch’s back. The Sabres winger had scored this season before his two third-period goals Saturday secured a 6-4 win over the Maple Leafs. He said he believes he had been skating well.

Piano’s too heavy for the expression.

“Monkey more than piano,” said Tuch, bringing the weight he was carrying early this season down about 700 pounds.

Fresh off a breakout 36-goal campaign, Tuch hadn’t ... Read the full article

Sabres fall behind early in loss to Flyers; Mattias Samuelsson leaves with injury

BUFFALO – The final result, an ugly 5-1 loss, stings enough. The Sabres began Friday on a short roll, having won two straight games and three of their last four.

After a disappointing start this season, the Sabres appeared to have finally found a bit of a groove.

Ninety-one seconds into Friday’s game, they trailed 2-0. The Flyers had two shots on goal.

About five minutes later, Mattias Samuelsson, the Sabres’ sturdiest defenseman, departed the ... Read the full article

Sabres lose Zach Benson to injury, add Brandon Biro, Devon Levi

BUFFALO – The Sabres have lost one rookie to injury and added two to the lineup.

General manager Kevyn Adams said on Tuesday that winger Zach Benson, 18, aggravated a lower-body injury he has been dealing with and will be sidelined week to week.

With a roster spot available, the Sabres recalled forward Brandon Biro from the Rochester Americans. Biro, 25, practiced at right wing Tuesday alongside center Tage Thompson and Jordan Greenway. Coach Don ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stymies Avs, records first NHL shutout

BUFFALO – Fair or not, the knock on Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is his inability to make big saves at critical times.

In his 50-game career, the Finn hasn’t delivered many of those momentum-changing stops that might preserve a lead or keep a contest tied or within striking distance.

That’s why Luukkonen’s superb save on star Mikko Rantanen with the game tied at 0 early in Sunday afternoon’s 4-0 win holds so much significance.

The ... Read the full article

With Sabres goalie Eric Comrie injured, Devin Cooley earns first NHL recall; Buffalo changes up lines

BUFFALO – Sabres goalie Eric Comrie’s lower-body injury will likely sideline him at least few weeks, general manger Kevyn Adams said. Meanwhile, rookie Devon Levi is still recovering from his lower-body injury.

So on Saturday, the Sabres, the same team forced to scratch a healthy goalie four times earlier this season, recalled Devin Cooley on an emergency basis from the Rochester Americans.

Cooley, 26, will back up Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for this afternoon’s game against the ... Read the full article

Eric Comrie injured in road loss, leaving Sabres with one healthy goalie

Remember when the Buffalo Sabres had too many goalies? Well, eight games into the season, they’ve already lost two of the three to injury.

Eric Comrie suffered a lower-body injury halfway through Friday’s 5-4 road loss to the New Jersey Devils and did not return to the game, leaving Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the Sabres’ only healthy goalie.

Coach Don Granato told reporters at the Prudential Center the Sabres would have more information on Comrie today.... Read the full article

Injured Sabres goalie Devon Levi still sore, hasn’t regressed

BUFFALO – Goalies Eric Comrie and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen have performed well in their first action this season, so the Sabres want to give rookie Devon Levi more time to recover from his lower-body injury.

Levi, who started the first four games, hasn’t played since last Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Sabres coach Don Granato said Levi, 21, is still experiencing soreness but hasn’t regressed.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely start against Senators

BUFFALO – After playing two consecutive games, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie will likely take a breather tonight in Ottawa, allowing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to make his first start this season.

Sabres coach Don Granato said rookie goalie Devon Levi, who started the first four games, is still nursing a “nagging” lower-body injury and will likely be unavailable against the Senators. Levi, 21, did not skate Monday morning.

“We don’t expect it to be much longer and ... Read the full article

Sabres goalie Eric Comrie to start again; Injured Devon Levi out tonight

BUFFALO – Fresh off a stellar 24-save outing in Saturday’s 3-1 win, Sabres goalie Eric Comrie will earn another nod tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.

Comrie, 28, hasn’t started back-to-back games since March 25 and 27.

After sitting out the first four games, he looked sharp throughout his season debut, making some critical saves before the Sabres pulled away from the New York Islanders.... Read the full article