Devon Levi ProRead 9
Rush Reads and Building ‘Presence’ in Tight
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Spending time with Devon Levi in Kelowna, B.C. this summer allowed InGoal us to catch up with the Buffalo Sabres goalie and grab fresh content on and off the ice. It also reminded us how great his insights are, and that they should not be wasted, so we’re going back into our Pro Reads video session together late last summer for more great breakdowns.
THE SEQUENCE
In this video review, Levi is facing a rush chance against the New York Rangers:
At this point in the sequence, can you identify the primary threat? Why? Is the puck carrier a threat? What factors matter the most when assessing this? Does the fact that is noted one-time sniper Mika Zibanejad in the high slot play a role in your read?
THE SAVE
Like all rush chances, speed matters, both in terms of the attack and potential backwards flow for the goaltender. In this case, there’s an added twist we weren’t able to show you in a screencap (but the above questions still matter and are addressed by Levi below).
So. watch it the save video and ask yourself the same questions we posed above. As it unfolds, ask yourself what stands out about the way Levi managed this?
It was hard to see that trailer (defenseman Ryan Lindgren) in the screencap, but even if we could show you a freeze frame of him coming in, this would have been a difficult play to read. Can you think of why? What do you make of how Levi closed on Lindgren?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear from Levi on how he saw on this sequence unfold and how he managed it:
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- Devon Levi breaks down his save on a Rangers rush chance, managing both a high-slot threat in Mika Zibanejad and a late-arriving trailer in defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
- Levi explains that a puck carrier pulling up is a clear passing cue — 'this guy pulling up is for sure a passer' — making the trailer the primary threat to track.
- Levi reflects that being too emotionally amped in a late tie game influenced how he read Lindgren's intentions, highlighting the role game situation plays in goaltender decision-making.
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