It was interesting to hear how early Levi identified Kaapo Kakko (No. 24) as the primary threat based on the positioning and pursuit of his defensemen, as well as Alexis Lafreniere looking across as he chased down the puck coming into the offensive zone. Despite that early awareness, Levi thinks he could have stay deeper in his crease to shorten his push.
“I think I could be a little bit deeper, honestly,” Levi said. “He has the potential to walk in but decides not to and there also three guys in his grill so it was the right play to pass, but knowing I had a guy on my left gave me an opportunity to push and try to get something on it.”
As for the mechanics of that push, Levi said it starts with his head.
“I’m leading with my head, looking at his release, just trying to track the puck,” Levi said. “I’m in a desperation save but I’m still trying to get my glove on it. So, I’m taking top of net away and then I see he puts it a little lower, so I close down on it and just smother it with my hand.”
It was also interesting to hear Levi talk about using a paddle down technique for more than just the 5-hole coverage it provides as he comes across into that “desperation save.”
“I can keep my chest up a little bit longer,” he said. “Just hold myself up.”
That sounds a lot like what we first heard from Jaroslav Halak, who was at the other end of Levi’s NHL debut when this save was made, in a couple of his Pro Reads sessions.
We have lots more coming from Levi and our time with him in Montreal, including video from four ice sessions with Raimondo, equipment insights and tips from the locker room of a CCM shoot earlier in the week, and another 40+ minutes of video breakdowns.
Stay tuned for all that, and a Podcast interview with Levi and Raimondo
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