Laval Rocket faces red-hot Dollard goalie Devon Levi in North Division final
Laval Rocket
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Devon Levi will allow another goal before his playoff run ends. That much is guaranteed.
It just seems like the Rochester Americans' goaltender, a Dollard-des-Ormeaux native, is unbeatable for the time being. And that could prove to be a problem for the Laval Rocket as the teams prepared for their best-of-five AHL North Division final.
'I try not to let the outcomes of games really affect the way I think,' Levi, 23, recently told The Gazette. 'I don't get too high when I'm not scored on. If I do get scored on a lot, I don't want to be on an emotional roller-coaster. As long as my process is good, I'm doing the right things and have good intentions and my habits are there, that's all I can control.
'If I'm doing the same things and give up seven goals, in an ideal world I'd feel the same. Trust my process, trust my base and not let the outcome of the game dictate how I feel.'
Levi has been on an incredible roll heading into Wednesday night's opening game at Blue Cross Arena (7 p.m., RDS). During Rochester's sweep of Syracuse in its first-round series, Levi recorded consecutive shutouts, allowed only two goals, had a ridiculous 0.67 goals-against average and a .978 save percentage. He hasn't allowed a goal since 3:29 of the second period of Game 1 and has a shutout streak of 156:31.
As the last line of defence, Levi knows the Americans will go as far as he takes them. He has been called the team's 'biggest piece' by Rochester captain Mason Jobst, and the articulate Levi is prepared to embrace that challenge.
'It's not something out of the ordinary,' Levi said. 'I accepted that role when I became a goaltender. You have a big job. You have the pressure on your shoulders. I thrive under that pressure and enjoy it. I love it. I want to help in any way that I can. It definitely excites me, but I also have belief in my team. I'm there for them and they're going to be there for me when I need them. We can help each other be successful.'
Levi was a major component in the Americans (42-22-5) finishing second in the division behind Laval, which was first overall in the AHL. He had a league-leading seven shutouts in 42 games while going 25-13-4, along with a 2.20 GAA and .919 save percentage.
Selected by Florida in the seventh round (No. 212 overall) in 2020, the Panthers traded Levi to the Buffalo Sabres in 2021, along with a conditional 2022 first-round pick (used to select centre Jiri Kulich No. 28 overall) in exchange for forward Sam Reinhart.
While Levi has thrived in the minors, his ascendancy to the NHL has proved more difficult, although he has been placed in a few untenable situations by the rebuilding Sabres. He went 2-7 in nine games this season with a 4.12 GAA and .872 save percentage, but was more successful in 2023-24. In 23 games (21 starts) the 6-foot, 192-pounder was 10-8-2 with a 3.10 GAA and .899 save percentage. In 39 NHL games (36 starts) Levi is 17-17-2 with a 3.29 average and .894 save percentage.
If Levi is the Sabres' goalie of the future, it appears he won't be rushed into that role. Last summer, Buffalo signed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a five-year, US$23.75-million contract.
'You put your trust and faith that it'll happen eventually if you do the right things,' said Levi, who played for the midget Lac St. Louis Lions and Carleton Place (CCHL) before attending Boston's Northeastern University, where he majored in computer science with a minor in business. 'One of the reasons I started playing was to play in the NHL and be the best. That's obviously a goal and a big motivation. But that's only half of the puzzle. I started playing because of my love and passion for the game. I don't care where it is. I just want to go out there and play.'
The series' second game is Friday night in Rochester before resuming next Wednesday at Place Bell in Laval. The Americans are scheduled to travel on Monday, leaving Levi plenty of time for family and friends while balancing his schedule. Away from the rink, Levi paints and plays piano on his keyboard.
'Returning home is the least of my worries,' he said. 'It will be a blessing to see my support system. There will be time.'
While Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent didn't reveal his netminder choice, it appeared Cayden Primeau would start in goal after the team's Wednesday morning skate.
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