Sabres call up Devon Levi to replace injured Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, put Ryan McLeod on IR
Levi has been on a spectacular run in Rochester, going 12-3-1 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. He took the loss Friday night in a shootout against Lehigh Valley in Blue Cross Arena despite stopping 30 of 32 shots.
Chalk up two more losses for the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, which was a day when they merely traveled to the Pacific Northwest and didn't practice.
The Sabres announced they have called up goaltender Devon Levi from the Rochester Amerks, and have also placed center Ryan McLeod on injured reserve. Levi is here because starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is banged up after taking a bump to the head from Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin in the second period of Friday night's game in KeyBank Center.
Devon Levi is back with the Sabres after a strong run in Rochester. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
McLeod is believed to have suffered a non-contact lower-body injury in practice Thursday and pushed through Friday's game. He played only 16:56 and had one shot on goal in Buffalo's 5-2 defeat.
There was no immediate word on a timetable for Luukkonen or McLeod. The Sabres practice here Sunday and meet the Seattle Kraken on Monday at 4 p.m. in Climate Pledge Arena. They then head up the road to meet the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night in Rogers Arena.
Levi and veteran backup James Reimer will undoubtedly split those two games in goal.
Levi has been on a spectacular run in Rochester, going 12-3-1 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .913 save percentage. He took the loss Friday night in a shootout against Lehigh Valley in Blue Cross Arena. Levi stopped 30 of 32 shots in that game.
In Buffalo this season, Levi is 2-6, 3.97/.876, but he had a strong game in his most recent start for the Sabres on Dec. 15 in Toronto. Levi stopped 36 of 40 shots in that game as the Sabres lost 5-3 after a Leafs empty-net goal.
McLeod, who rang up his first career hat trick in Wednesday's win over Carolina, had moved to the center role on the top two lines with Dylan Cozens in the wake of Tage Thompson's lingering injury that has pushed him to the wing. Jiri Kulich is expected to return to practice Sunday and may be able to replace McLeod on Monday.
McLeod has 10 goals, 14 assists and a plus-6 rating for the Sabres this season after being acquired in July from Edmonton for Matthew Savoie
