Devon Levi didn’t sound like a goalie wrapped up in his own numbers after returning from Injured Reserve. He sounded like someone who understands exactly what matters when the puck drops.
After sitting out two weeks, the Edmonton Oilers netminder was back in the blue paint for a 1-1 game heading into the third period, and he made it clear he was thrilled to be back in a tight, grinding matchup. Levi said he kept his mind sharp during the layoff with visualization and light ice work alongside goalie coach Pete Peeters, then stepped right back into the kind of pressure-packed setting a goaltender lives for.
When Gene Principe asked about his individual numbers from the night, Levi delivered a blunt answer that cut through all the usual stat talk:
“Honestly, I couldn’t care less about stats. A great example of that is my grandfather.
He’s a winner. It didn’t matter if he let in seven or zero-he won games.
So that’s kind of my mentality here… I don’t care about my personal stats.”
That mindset stood out in a league where save percentages and advanced metrics get picked apart constantly. Levi’s view was simpler: his role is to give his team a chance, not to chase a personal line on a stat sheet. With the Oilers’ offensive firepower around him, he framed the job as a team-first one, where the win column carries more weight than any individual number.
Levi also spoke about what it meant to return on Hockey Fights Cancer night. He said he was glad to be part of the NHL’s effort and to play a small role in supporting the courageous battles young fans in the community face every day.
For Levi, the night was about more than the box score. It was about getting back in net, battling for teammates, and helping his team come away with a win.
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Oilers Get The Win They Needed But One Concern Just Grew
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But the bigger picture for Edmonton was not just the two points. Devon Levi was back in goal and stopped 20 of 22 shots, giving the Oilers a steadier look in net, yet the game still carried a late concern that could matter more than the standings in the short term. One of their regular forwards left with an issue after taking a puck to the face, and his status will be worth watching as the Oilers try to keep building momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Win Came With A Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Scare
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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins status adds another layer to a roster that already has some moving parts, especially with the organization keeping an eye on Bakersfield as well. The Condors recent loss and the goaltending performance there are part of the broader picture, but the bigger question for Edmonton is how it manages its forward group if the injury lingers. With potential changes looming once Matt Savoie is back, the Oilers could be looking at another round of line juggling before long. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Have A Trade Chance With Ryan McLeod Suddenly In Limbo
Ryan McLeods place in Buffalo has become a little less certain of late, with the forward recently sitting as a healthy scratch and no longer looking like a regular fixture in the Sabres lineup. For Edmonton, that kind of uncertainty naturally invites a familiar kind of conversation, since center depth is always a topic worth revisiting and McLeods name still carries some appeal in Oil Country.
The trade angle here is still just that, an angle, with no confirmed indication that the Oilers and Sabres are actually working on anything. Even so, McLeods contract and the kind of assets it might take to pry him loose make for an interesting fit check, especially for a team that could always use another option down the middle if the opportunity ever becomes real. [Read more 🡒]