BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabres placed forward Ryan McLeod on the reserve list with an undisclosed injury and called up goaltender Devon Levi on Saturday before traveling west to begin a four-game road trip.
McLeod skated 16:56 of ice time as Buffalo’s top-line center in Friday night’s 5-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, after producing his first career hat trick in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s unclear when McLeod sustained his injury, but he reportedly took an awkward fall in practice on Thursday.
Levi, who has been playing well enough for the Rochester Americans to be selected to the American Hockey League All-Star Classic, could be needed to dress for Buffalo’s game at Seattle on Monday. Starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen received attention from trainers but stayed in the game Friday after taking a hit to the head from Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin on a interference penalty.
In eight NHL appearances this season, Levi has posted a 2-6-0 record with an .876 save percentage and 3.97 goals-against average. That is worse than Levi’s production in 23 games as a rookie (.899 SV%, 3.10 GAA) and seven games he played at the end of the 2022-23 season (.905 SV%, 2.94 GAA) after joining the Sabres out of college.
Levi has a 12-3-2 record with a .913 SV% and 2.33 GAA with the Amerks this season.
McLeod has 10 goals and 24 points through 45 games in his first season with the Sabres after being acquired in a trade for prospect Matt Savoie.
The Sabres are suddenly thin at center, with rookie Jiri Kulich out with a lower-body injury, and Tage Thompson playing on the wing for the past seven games. Coach Lindy Ruff said Thompson’s position change was related to a previous injury that was still affecting him.
After playing at Seattle, the Sabres visit Vancouver on Tuesday, Calgary on Thursday, and Edmonton on Saturday.