They're baaaack....

Watching the Sabres dominate the Atlanta Thrashers tonight in a game that could only be described as surreal, I couldn’t help but feel the familiar pangs of excitement that I haven’t felt since we won the President’s Cup. The playoffs are right around the corner and the thrill of the hunt has taken over Buffalo, inspiring die hard and bandwagon fans alike to turn on MSG and cheer for our only winning team.

The Buffalo Sabres have never been a disappointment like the Bills, but it’s been a few seasons since they’ve really made a run for the Cup and that sentiment has rubbed off on fans. After selling out 46(ish) straight games, attendance dropped back to pitiful levels and even some of the most loyal fans found themselves wondering how the Sabres played the night before, rather than religiously watching every minute of the game. It became harder to find people who were honestly passionate about the team and in a city where fans are known for loyalty, that was sad. Then Terry Pegula came along. I don’t know what it is about him that’s turned this team, and for that matter, this city, around, but he’s obviously doing something right. When Golisano sold the Sabres, not everyone thought it was a good thing. Pegula was unfamiliar and not a Buffalo man, concerns were high that the team would be moved or become even more disheartening as a disinterested owner took control. Those who thought like that couldn’t have been more wrong. In the last month, Pegula has shown more interest in the Sabres than Golisano ever did and it shows in the way the team plays and the way the city has turned around. Fans are rallying around a team that’s suddenly a playoff contender, our new player has produced in almost every single game, and Pegula has flat out said that the Sabres’ sole purpose for existence is now to win the Cup. With that infectious attitude, how could fans not be excited?

As April gets closer, the level of intensity is palpable on and off the ice. The Sabres are finally making a mad dash for that playoff position, and it finally feels like we may actually get there. The grit and heart we’ve lacked the last few seasons are back and better than ever, so it’s time to get ready for that stomach flipping rollercoaster ride every Sabres fan has been dying to feel.