Byram fined $5,000 by NHL for hit in Wednesday’s loss to Senators.
) – Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bo Byram was fined the maximum $5,000 by the NHL on Thursday for a hit on Ottawa Senators forward Angus Crookshank in Wednesday night’s 6-2 loss.
Byram was not suspended by the league and he said there was absolutely no intent to hurt Crookshank,
“I think I was a little surprised, you know I didn’t intend on harming anybody on the ice, I feel like to be completely honest it was a routine play, I was just trying to give him a bump going back to the net and box him out a little bit and I feel like I do that a lot.
He’s a smaller guy (5-foot-10, 181 pounds) and I don’t think he was expecting the contact, but there’s definitely no malicious thought coming from my end, and unfortunately he wasn’t really expecting it and I caught him high and late, but there was no intent from my end of hurting anybody.”
Devon Levi had his own net which usually means he gets the start in the next game. That game is Friday against the New Jersey Devils. In his two games since being recalled from the Rochester Americans, Levi is 0-1-0 with a 1.66 goals against and .954 save percentage.
Since Jan. 4 Levi has played five NHL games going 2-2-0 with a 2.49 goals against and .927 save percentage.
Overall this season he’s 9-8-2 with a 3.16 goals against and .898 save percentage. In his last trip to Rochester, Levi was playing a lot and in important games trying to help the Amerks solidify a playoff spot. Levi played very well going 11-5-3 with a 2.52 goals against and .927 save percentage.
Levi is the type of player that is always taking every experience he gets and turning into a way to get better. As far as this experience went he said,
It was a great run with the guys. Seth Appert has been unbelievable leading the group and the guys have been great and I feel like going into those important games and having everyone just stressed to go out and play, there’s a no better feeling.
“Everyone wants to make it to the next level, but everyone wants to succeed and everyone’s got each other’s back and just to play consistently was also unbelievable.