Devon Levi ProRead 8
Understanding Key Pass-or-Shot Factors off the Rush
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Devon Levi is up in Kelowna, B.C. this week and InGoal Magazine has been on hand to catch up with the Buffalo Sabres goalie, grabbing fresh content on and off the ice, making now a perfect time to get back into our Pro Reads video session together late last summer.
THE SEQUENCE
In this video breakdown, Levi is facing a rush chance against Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers, who are also on a power play at the time:
Levi isn’t even in the picture yet, but what information are you looking for as this rush chance gets over the Buffalo blue line? Consider both the attack and the defenders.
This next freeze frame gives away part of the answer:
Now that we’ve given away the fact this becomes a 2-on-1 down low, what factors matter in this second freeze frame? Had you already identified any of them in the first image?
With Levi in the picture now, what do you make of his depth and choice to use an overlap?
What factors do you think would go into those choices? This won’t apply to most of you — at least not directly — but does the fact it’s Barkov with the puck matter?
THE SAVE
Like all rush chances, speed matters, both in terms of the attack and potential backwards flow for the goaltender, so watch the save video.
Watch it a second time and ask yourself the same questions we posed above.
What did you think of the way Levi played this chance?
Did you read the pass option as the most dangerous threat?
Having done so, would you have stayed squared up and outside your post on Barkov?
Was there anything you can see that led to his initial positioning decision?
What about the timing of his push and the push itself?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear from Levi on how he saw on this sequence unfold and how he managed it:
Watch Devon Levi break down the full video for you
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- Devon Levi breaks down his save on a power-play 2-on-1 rush against Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers.
- Levi identifies how a 3-on-2 can become what he calls a 'quick forming 2-on-1' down low as soon as a defenseman steps up to make a hit — reading that transition early is central to his positioning decision.
- Levi explains factoring in shooter handedness early in the rush to inform his depth and choice to use an overlap before the play develops down low.
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