Entering Saturday, the Oilers’ defensive game was also an issue, giving up high-quality scoring chances in the season opener, a 6-5 overtime loss to the Canucks on Sept. 29, and looking disorganized in the third during the second game of the back-to-back.
But Edmonton limited the quality chances against Seattle, and Levi was able to respond when there was a rare breakdown. He made an outstanding sprawling glove save against Jordan Eberle at 7:38 of the third, which needed an official review to confirm the puck had not crossed the line.
“I thought he was fantastic, he made a couple of major big-time stops, great timing on those stops, too, to keep us in it,” Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said. “He was unreal tonight. It’s a give and take. When you give up breakaways and odd-man rushes, your goalie is only going to stop so many of those.
“Certainly, that’s how we want to play -- that’s our identity. Obviously, the (previous) game got away from us a little bit, it’s not the easiest situation either, but you can certainly play that better, and tonight was a solid effort. It’s certainly the blueprint of how we want to play.”
Getting timely saves is part of the game plan for Edmonton, which hired Mike Babcock as coach with the hope he could help bring more structure.
Babcock walked into the postgame media availability Saturday and said, “Didn’t give up a touchdown,” while pumping his fist.
All jokes aside, he was happy with the play of his still-young goalie.
“He seems like a confident kid,” Babcock said of Levi. “I think your first game with a new organization, sometimes things don’t go as well, and you don’t get your own way.
“I thought Freddy Andersen did a heck of job with him the other day, he was talking to him about tightness, and Freddy’s been through it, lived it. Freddy is 37 and won the Stanley Cup and to have a guy like that in your organization, that can share his experience with a young guy, I think it helps him.”
Andersen is working his way back from a knee injury and isn’t expected to make his Oilers debut until at least December. These next few months are Levi’s chance to prove he can contribute to a team that is still trying to prove it can contend for the Stanley Cup after back-to-back trips to the Cup Final in 2024 and 2025. The Oilers were eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference First Round last season.
“Whatever the circumstance is, I’ll be ready to play,” Levi said. “Freddy has been awesome so far; he’s been around and I’ve had great conversations with him, a lot of support from him too. I’ve never really had a veteran goalie on my team in the goalie system and the goalie team with me. Having his support, he’s been through so much and hearing what he has to say, and his leadership also has been super helpful too. I’m sure happy he’s around.”
Edmonton (2-0-1) is off until Wednesday, when it begins a three-game California trip in Anaheim. Who gets that start in goal for the Oilers hasn’t been revealed yet, but Levi hits the road with something to build on.
But he’s not getting ahead of himself.
“After today, nothing changes,” Levi said.
