When he was younger, Devon Levi watched Carey Price and had fun booing Zdeno Chara when the Bruins visited Montreal. Older, Levi scored his first victory against his childhood team on the ice at the Bell Center.
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At 22 years old, Levi put on his pads and his mask in the colors of the Buffalo Sabers for the first time in the Price enclosure. He will never forget this experience.
Photo Martin Chevalier
The Montreal goaltender stopped 32 shots in a 6-1 victory for the Sabers against the Canadiens. He thus avenged his first match against the Habs where he lost 3 to 2 in a shootout. It was last December 9 at KeyBank Arena in Buffalo. Cayden Primeau had the best in this duel between two former Northeastern Huskies goalies.
In the morning, Levi took part in the Sabres’ optional training on the Bell Center ice rink. He had blocked pucks for almost 45 minutes, which is quite rare for a starting goalie on the day of a game.
“It’s so special, I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was five years old,” said Levi, who received the title of first star. I was watching Carey Price making big glove saves. But tonight, it was me in front of the net after Price and after other great Canadian goaltenders. I won’t forget it. I listen to Fix You (Coldplay) before each of my matches in my headphones. But for today, I didn’t need to, the song was playing in the arena. »
There is now no longer any doubt. Levi will keep fond memories of his baptism at the Bell Centre. A memory even sweeter than his visits with his father and his brother in his childhood where he took his place in the stands of the amphitheater as a simple supporter. A young boy who took pleasure in jeering at Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.
Joel Armia scored the only goal against the 7th round pick in 2021. He beat him with a precise shorthanded shot after a blunder by Rasmus Dahlin in the second period.
Skinner again
Returning to Montreal after a long journey of seven games on opposing ice rinks, the Canadian lost a first game this season in three clashes against the Sabres.
Jake Allen was unable to slow down the beast of the CH, Jeff Skinner. The Sabres’ small winger energized his team’s attack with a goal and three assists. He thus increased his personal record against the Montreal team to 46 points (26 goals, 20 assists) in 41 games.
Tage Thompson (1 goal, 2 assists), Jack Quinn (1 goal, 1 assist), Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Dahlin (1 goal, 1 assist) also had a profitable evening.
The Sabers scored two of their four goals on the power play.
After three-for-three outings in Tampa and one for one in Dallas, the Canadian fell back into his bad habits on the numerical penalty, allowing two goals in five occasions.
Two landmark decisions
In the glass-half-full perception, that recommended by Martin St-Louis, we note that the Canadian had a bit of bad luck in this match.
Photo Martin Chevalier
There was Levi’s pad stop against Jesse Ylönen, where we couldn’t see on the restart if the puck had completely crossed the red line. And in the second period, Michael Pezzetta committed interference against number 27 of the Sabers during an Armia goal.
Don Granato won his challenge against Pezzetta who had touched Levi before his move.
Photo Martin Chevalier
But whatever the reasons, the Sabers (16-19-4) played a better game than the Canadian (16-17-5) and they deserved to leave Montreal with the victory.