BUFFALO – Before Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen suffered an injury, Devon Levi played just four of the Sabres’ first 15 games, hardly an ideal workload for a young goalie.
Levi, 22, must play regularly. Starting once over a three-week stretch, as he did after allowing six goals in a loss Oct. 17, doesn’t help him. Having recently added veteran James Reimer from waivers, the Sabres have an established backup option behind Luukkonen, who has recovered from his lower-body injury.
It made no sense for the Sabres to carry three goalies. So on Monday, they sent Levi to Rochester, where he can earn consistent action with the Americans.
“We have to get him some games, get him playing,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Monday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “It would be the best thing for him.”
The Sabres, who begin a three-game California road trip Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings, also recalled wing prospect Isak Rosen from Rochester because winger Jordan Greenway is week to week with a mid-body injury. More on that later.
Levi’s rookie season played out similarly to this year. Last season, Luukkonen’s emergence as the No. 1 goalie forced the Sabres to assign Levi to the minors in late November for regular work.
The Sabres occasionally recalled him, and by the end of his first full pro season, he played 54 total games: 23 in the NHL and 31 with the Amerks, including five appearances in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Levi played three straight games (two starts) last week as Luukkonen recovered, compiling a 1-2-0 record with a 4.01 goals-against average and an .855 save percentage.
Prior to Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues, Levi hadn’t started since Nov. 1. As his numbers illustrate, he looked rusty and not up to his usual standard.
“This is the first time in his career he’s dealt with (it),” Ruff said of Levi’s limited action. “… It’s not easy on a young goaltender because you need to find some rhythm. You need to see like game-like chaos, which you don’t get in practice.”
Ruff said he had a “great conversation” with Levi following Monday’s practice.
“Nobody likes going down, but he wants to play, too,” he said.
Last month, as Ruff began the season by alternating his goalies, Levi enjoyed two strong starts, registering 1-1-0 record with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
But since allowing six goals in a road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a weak outing that cost him playing time, he has compiled awful numbers – a 1-4-0 mark with a 4.60 goals-against average and a ghastly .846 save percentage – in five games.
In college, Levi played 89 percent of Northeastern’s games. After turning pro late in 2022-23, he started seven of the Sabres’ final eight contests and the first four last season before suffering an injury.
In Rochester, where goalies Michael Houser and Felix Sandstrom have been sharing playing time, Levi will be the undisputed starter.
Levi played last week because Luukkonen suffered an injury Nov. 10 in practice. The Finn played 40 minutes in last Monday afternoon’s 7-5 loss to the Montreal Canadiens before Levi replaced him.
“I feel like I was pushing it in the Montreal game a little bit,” Luukkonen said. “There’s no excuses for that, but still, I feel like I wasn’t playing 100 percent in the Montreal game. You can’t let that happen. You want to be 100 percent, you want to feel great. I feel like I’m at that point now.”
If Luukkonen, 25, stays healthy, Reimer, 36, might play just once or twice a month. He started two games for the Anaheim Ducks after they claimed him from the Sabres on Oct. 7. He hasn’t played since Oct. 27.
The Sabres play Friday in Anaheim and Saturday against the San Jose Sharks, so he could start one of those games.
“It’s nothing that I haven’t faced before, or a little adversity that I haven’t faced before,” Reimer said of being a backup. “… You’re intentional about your practices, you’re intentional about your details, so when it comes to game time, you’re as ready as you’re going to be. When it comes to game time you, just trust what you got.”
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Ruff said Greenway, who missed Saturday’s 5-2 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, underwent an MRI and “in all likelihood week to week.”
With Greenway sidelined, the Sabres summoned Rosen, who has scored four goals and a team-high 13 points in 14 games this season for the Amerks.
Rosen, the 14th overall pick in 2021, played his first seven NHL games last season.
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Center Tage Thompson, the Sabres’ leading scorer, practiced Monday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury last week.
“It’s tough to project it out a couple of days from now, but felt pretty good today,” Thompson said of his status for Wednesday. “I would say it’s another step in the right direction. Still feel it. So I think it’s close, so I don’t want to give you a for sure answer, but it’s not out of the question.”
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Winger Alex Tuch missed Monday’s session with what Ruff called “a little bit of an ailment.”
Ruff said Tuch’s status for Wednesday will be determined by how he feels Tuesday.
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Ruff said defenseman Henri Jokiharju, a healthy scratch for six straight games, will play Wednesday.
“Just want to see better puck battles from him and you know what you’re doing with the puck, what that first touch looks like,” Ruff said of what he wants to see from Jokiharju. “I think it is a big deal for a defenseman going back that first play, making the right play.”