The Buffalo Bills and Sabres share one common misery… they’ve never won the big one. In fact, while the Bills’ 17 year playoff drought was the epitome of frustration, the Sabres’ 14 year (and counting) playoff drought threatens to say “hold my beer”. Fortunately through some fate of the universe the Sabres woke up on December 9th and flipped the switch from perennial loser to the prettiest, shiniest wagon the sports world has ever seen.
Buffalo fans are not about to question the gods.
Whatever universe we are living in today, please let the good times roll for awhile. No fan base has been more deserving of a true cinderella story than hockey and football fans in Buffalo (and now around the world). It’s been stated by many in the media that Buffalo sports fans are unlike any other fan base. There is not an ounce of hyperbole in that statement either.
After the Sabres gutted out a one goal victory (3-2) on Saturday to secure a six game winning streak since returning from the Olympic break it became clear this hockey team is unlike any we’ve seen in at least a decade and a half. And they just blew up out of seemingly nowhere. Hockey fans around North America are perplexed and we hope they stay that way.
Each victory tells its own story and Saturday night at Key Bank Center, the Sabres revealed yet another new facet to their game. After flailing around for the first period (maybe thinking too far ahead to the game on Sunday vs. Tampa), head coach Lindy Ruff got on them in the locker room about their ‘east/west’ game.
Go NORTH young men!
And the most astounding thing happened. They did exactly that and never looked back. They came out in the second period, kicked it up a notch (jump started by a Tage Thompson goal)… and ended up skating off with the one goal victory.
We have not seen this version of the Sabres for at least 15 years. Instead of folding like a cheap suit because they had difficulty penetrating the Nashville Predator’s blue line, they came roaring back skating and shooting like their collective hair was on fire.
This sort of patience is not something we are used to seeing from the Sabres. They pulled themselves out of a first period funk and closed the game out with two face offs by newly minted Sabre (the hired gun) center Sam Carrick. Wow. This team is a wagon and they know it.
And because President of Football Operations and general manager Brandon Beane is never to be outdone, it was announced the Bills signed center Connor McGovern to a 4-year, $52 million contract extension on the same day. Josh Allen will not have to put his hands on the rear end of an unfamiliar butt for at least four more years. This came as a bit of a surprise to many who believed McGovern was as good as gone. McGovern took a hometown discount and it’s mostly because they have Josh Allen, recently voted the most loved player in the NFL.
And we all know as long as the Buffalo Bills have Josh Allen, they have a chance to win against any opponent they face.
So what exactly is this strange feeling we are now experiencing as both major sports teams in the Nickel City are the talk of their respective leagues? It’s unfamiliar territory for many Buffalo sports fans because almost an entire generation exists without having seen both teams be successful simultaneously.
There’s truly no place on earth like Buffalo when one team is a wagon… but when BOTH teams are lighting it up it’s definitely sports heaven on ‘roids. Buffalo will always be that hard-nosed city of blue collar workers even if there are fewer blue collar jobs compared to decades ago. The ethos and gray skies only highlight it’s odd ambience. We really are a bunch of beer drinking weirdos who jump through tables while donating enough money to build a new wing at Oshei Childrens Hospital.
The fact that this very moment in time is when we’ll likely see the end of the Sabres’ playoff drought and the Bills get ready for their inaugural season at the new stadium simultaneously is crazy to think about… what a glorious time it is to be a Buffalo sports fan.
Suck up each of these joyous moments like a hoover, Buffalo, because we also know how it feels to suffer through decades of despair. Spring is in the air (fake or not), life is good and we are about to celebrate the end of another two eras with the opening of the new stadium and the likely end of the Sabres’ playoff drought.
Forza Buffalo!
Editor’s babble: Been doing my “Extra Credit” series for years here. It’s about things I have to say outside of our football only discussions. You can also find me pontificating about stuff like this on X @RobynMundyWYO.
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