Sabres prospect Devon Levi feels ‘lucky’ to earn Budweiser can by holding Alex Ovechkin goalless

Buffalo Sabres goalie prospect Devon Levi considers himself fortunate. In his one career appearance against Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer in NHL history never landed his wicked one-timer on net.

“I’m one of the lucky ones,” joked Levi, who has spent most of this season starring for the Rochester Americans.

On Nov. 22, 2023, Levi made 26 saves in his 15th start for the Sabres, a 4-3 overtime road loss to Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals.

Ovechkin registered four shots on goal that night. Levi stopped them all, unknowingly joining an elite group of netminders.

Only 28 goalies who faced a shot from Ovechkin never allowed a goal. After the Russian scored his 895th goal on April 6, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record, each of them received a personalized commemorative can of Budweiser Zero.

The words “The greatest goal scorer of all time couldn’t score on you” adorn the front of the can below the Budweiser Zero logo (an “of 895” has been added to the end). The bottom of the front features Ovechkin’s shot total on the goalie and a zero for his goal total.

Levi, 23, had no idea a unique beer can would be arriving.

“There’s so many great goalies on that list,” he told the Times Herald. “It’s cool being in their presence.”

Curtis Joseph and Braden Holtby, who spent most of his career as Ovechkin’s teammate, are the most decorated goalies on the list. Two former Sabres – Michal Neuvirth and Jocelyn Thibault – are also among the names.

Mike Condon, Levi’s goalie coach during his college career at Northeastern, stopped all 18 of Ovechkin’s shots he faced, the second-highest total on the list behind Vitek Vanecek, who made 19 saves.

“We were joking around about how later in life we’ll crack it open together,” Levi said.

For now, Levi said he will put the one-of-a-kind can on his shelf next to some hockey collectibles from his childhood.

“So pretty cool to have it up there, too,” he said.

Levi knows if he had faced one of Ovechkin’s blistering one-timers, that list might have just 27 names.

“That’s a big part of the reason why I’m on this list,” he said.

But Levi, who always seems to be challenging himself, said he “would love to face one of those” lethal Ovechkin shots someday.

“I’m happy that I got the beer can first, though,” he said.

Levi, having established himself as one of the AHL’s elite goalies, could have a chance to face Ovechkin again next season.

He has morphed into the Amerks’ backbone and further established himself as one of hockey’s best goaltending prospects this season.

Given Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s struggles this season and his dominance in the AHL, Levi could earn a promotion to Buffalo next season. He has played two games for the Sabres, who close their disappointing season Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers at KeyBank Center, since they sent him to the minors in mid-November following a slow start.

Staying in Rochester for most of the last five months has offered him a chance to develop a routine he hasn’t had since perhaps his college career.

“I head to the rink at the same time,” he said. “I do the same things when I get to the rink. It’s kind of mindless at this point. Just go in. I don’t have to make decisions through my day to day.

“I just know where I’m going, what I’m doing, and then I feel like it just opens up a little bit of extra creativity and brain power on the ice.”

Levi’s gaudy numbers illustrate his comfort in Rochester. Entering Wednesday’s home game against the Cleveland Monsters, he had compiled a 24-12-4 record with a 2.23 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and a league-leading seven shutouts in 40 appearances. His win total ranked second in the league.

If the Amerks go on a long run in the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs, Levi will likely be leading the charge. Entering Wednesday’s schedule, they were tied for the AHL’s third-highest point total with 93.

Levi said players buying into what the coaches want has helped buoy the Amerks.

“I feel like we’re all on the same page when we’re out there,” he said. “Everyone’s fighting for each other, D blocking shots, forwards backchecking. The offense has been really good this year. We can score goals. … I think we’re firing on all cylinders.”

He has enjoyed arguably the best season of any Sabres goaltending prospect in Rochester since Ryan Miller in 2004-05. On Friday, Miller was inducted into the Americans Hall of Fame.

Levi narrated Miller’s induction video and also got to know him a bit during the Sabres’ season-opening trip to Europe.

“I have so much respect for him,” Levi said. “I grew up watching him play. So just an opportunity for me to kind of get to know him a little bit better and ask him some questions and pick his brain.”

Miller said he has learned Levi “works on himself in many different ways.”

“Being a goaltender isn’t just one thing; it’s a lot of things together,” he said Friday. “So … he’s embraced being a part of the Rochester Americans, and his goal is to lead this team and do something.”

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The Sabres had Wednesday off.