The beautiful story of Devon Levi: from booing Zdeno Chara as a young fan to beating CH as an NHL goalkeeper
When he was younger, Devon Levi watched Carey Price and enjoyed booing Zdeno Chara when the Bruins visited Montreal. The elder Levi scored his first win against his childhood team on the ice at the Bell Center.
• Also read: A brutal return to Montreal
• Also read: “It was a bit vintage Carey Price” – Devon Levi
• Also read: Christian Dvorak, who suffered a torn pectoral muscle, will miss the rest of the season
At age 22, Levi put on his pads and mask in the Buffalo Sabers colors for the first time in the Price enclosure. He will never forget this experience.
Photo Martin Chevalier
The Montreal goaltender stopped 32 shots in the Sabers' 6-1 win over the Canadiens. In doing so, he avenged his first game against the Habs, in which he lost 3-2 in a shootout. It was December 9th of last year at the KeyBank Arena in Buffalo. Cayden Primeau had the best performance in this matchup between two former Northeastern Huskies goalies.
In the morning, Levi attended the Sabres' optional practice at the Bell Center rink. He had been blocking pucks for nearly 45 minutes, which is pretty rare for a starting goalie on a game day.
“It's so special, I've dreamed of this moment since I was five years old,” said Levi, who received the title of first star. I watched Carey Price make big saves. But tonight I was in front of the net after Price and other great Canadian goalies. I will not forget it. I listen to Fix You (Coldplay) on my headphones before every game I play. But that wasn't necessary for today, the song was playing in the arena. »
Now there is no longer any doubt. Levi will have fond memories of his baptism at the Bell Center. A memory that is even more beautiful than the visits to his father and brother in his childhood, where he sat in the stands of the amphitheater as a simple fan. A little boy who took pleasure in taunting Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.
Joel Armia scored the only goal against the 7th-round pick in 2021, beating him with a precise shorthanded shot after a fumble by Rasmus Dahlin in the second period.
Skinner again
The Canadian returned to Montreal after a long journey of seven games at opposing rinks and lost the first game of the season in three duels against the Sabres.
Jake Allen couldn't slow down the CH beast, Jeff Skinner. The Sabres' diminutive winger enlivened his team's attack with a goal and three assists. He increased his personal record against the team from Montreal 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 successful evening.
The Sabers scored two of their four goals on the power play.
After three games of three appearances in Tampa and one of one in Dallas, the Canadian fell back into his bad habits with the numerical penalty and allowed two goals on five occasions.
Two groundbreaking decisions
In the half-full perception recommended by Martin St-Louis, we note that the Canadian was a bit unlucky in this game.
Photo Martin Chevalier
There was a pad stop by Levi's against Jesse Ylönen where we couldn't see on the restart if the puck had fully crossed the red line. And in the second period, Michael Pezzetta disrupted the number 27 Sabers on an Armia goal.
Don Granato won his fight 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 Canadiens (16-17-5) and they deserved to leave Montreal with a win.
Éver Banega played for clubs such as Inter Milan, Boca Juniors, Valencia and Sevilla. Photo: Clarin.
Mauricio Larriera led Alianza Lima during the Clausura 2023. Photo: La República/Luis Jiménez.
