Levi has been steadily ramping up his activity with the team over the course of a light week for the Sabres, culminating with getting the starting nod against the Rangers. The rookie has the luxury of watching New York play on Thursday night, who plays at New Jersey before catching a flight to Buffalo on a back-to-back.
"You never know what's going to happen until you're out there and reading the play and kind of just getting a feel for the game," Levi said. "I'll do my studying a little bit tonight but tomorrow it's just instinctual out there."
The 21-year-old has been studying his teammates' shooting habits and diligently watching film in preparation for his first crack at the crease. Sabres coach Don Granato said his main focus was to acclimate Levi with his new teammates, adding that Levi's familiarity with the organization played a key role in readying him to start.
His resume in college speaks for itself.
"Obviously, the accomplishments that he's had at the college level are indicative of the work he's put in at the college level," Granato said. "That's a major component that we feel we have a player coming out of the collegiate level that has used that time to prepare for this next opportunity as well as anybody."
With the team still in the hunt for a playoff berth, Levi is immediately thrust into the heat of the race. It's a responsibility that's not lost on the young netminder as he prepares to square off against New York's potent lineup.
"It's a hell of a story. I love it. They're a great team and I'm really excited to go play them my first game," Levi said. "I've watched some video. I'm really excited to face them. Some really good players on their team."
Granato said Levi has been a student of the game since before he set foot in the Sabres facility.
"His attentiveness, even with meetings. The questions he asks. He's very inquisitive," Granato said. "He wants to learn more, learn different angles on situations and you see him very well-prepared to practice and for each drill in practice."
For Levi, he's just happy he can set foot on the ice in an NHL game.
"It's unreal. I wouldn't want it any other way," Levi said. "Going up against the best is why I'm here, why I'm excited. It'll be a great challenge tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it."
More from practice today:
1.Mattias Samuelsson was back on the ice and skating in a regular jersey on Thursday. Samuelsson has missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury. He skated on an extra-pairing with Kale Clague.
Granato said Samuelsson could be available against the Rangers. He will be a game time decision.
2.Tage Thompson is still day to day with an upper-body injury after missing the Sabres' 4-3 shootout loss to the Canadiens on Monday. Granato also said Thompson could return to the lineup Friday night and would be a game-time decision.
3.Here's how the lines looked at practice:
| March 30, 2023 |
| --- |
| LW | C | RW |
| 53 Jeff Skinner | 37 Casey Mittelstadt | 89 Alex Tuch |
| 77 JJ Peterka | 24 Dylan Cozens | 22 Jack Quinn |
| 12 Jordan Greenway | 17 Tyson Jost | 71 Victor Olofsson |
| 28 Zemgus Girgensons | 19 Peyton Krebs | 21 Kyle Okposo |
| | | |
| LD | RD | G |
| 26 Rasmus Dahlin | 10 Henri Jokiharju | 27 Devon Levi |
| 25 Owen Power | 46 Ilya Lyubushkin | 31 Eric Comrie |
| 61 Riley Stillman | 78 Jacob Bryson | 1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen |
| 23 Matias Samuelsson | 38 Kale Clague | |
