Quebec goaltender Devon Levi had his dream first NHL start on Friday night.
The young guard saved 31 of 33 pucks aimed at him, allowing the Buffalo Sabers to beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime. His performance earned him the first star of the game. Hard to beat.
“It was a dream come true. I’ve dreamed of this moment all my life,” the young man said with a big smile to local media after the meeting.
“The match went fast, I was having fun and I guess when you’re having fun, things go fast!” […] The fans are amazing! It’s so nice to have so much support when you arrive, it makes things a lot easier. Fans shouting your name is fantastic. I can’t take credit for the win, the guys played well in front of me. »
After the game, Levi gave his game puck to his father Laurent, the Sabers said on their Twitter account.
“Devon was good from start to finish. He looked confident. His movements and his vision were good,” said head coach Don Granato.
Levi’s March has been hectic to say the least. Barely a fortnight ago, the Montreal goaltender was still playing with the Northeastern University Huskies. After his team was eliminated, he signed his first contract with the Buffalo Sabers. On March 23, he took part in his first NHL practice. And now he has just obtained his first victory in his first career duel.
“When they give me the signal, I’ll be ready,” he told Montreal media during the Canadiens’ visit to Buffalo on Monday.
With the win, the Sabers move within five points of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Blake Wheeler ended a 21-game scoreless drought and the Winnipeg Jets outscored the Detroit Red Wings 6-2 on Friday night.
The Jets had scored three or fewer goals in their last nine games and had been shut out three times during that streak.
Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Dylan DeMelo and Nikolaj Ehlers all had one goal and one assist for the Jets, which snapped a two-game losing streak.
Nino Niederreiter scored Manitoba’s other goal. Mason Appleton and Vladislav Namestnikov both set up two goals for their team.
Connor Hellebuyck stopped 23 shots for the Jets, which are trying to hold on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
David Perron and Veleno hit the target for the Red Wings, who were coming off a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Magnus Hellberg made 23 saves in a losing cause.
