With Heavy Hearts, Bruins Unable to Beat Sabres

Just two days after the tragic events in Boston, the Bruins were tasked with holding the first sporting event for the city. Their hearts were no where else but with the victims, as were the fans and the Buffalo players, but a game was to be played. It’s been shown before that sports can help provide a temporary relief from tragic events and that’s all the Bruins wanted to do for their fans and their city.

It was a very somber start to the game with a moving tribute to the victims showing on the jumbo-tron before the anthem. The entire crowd, as well as some players, sang the national anthem and started shouting “U S A” and “We Are Boston.” You could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of emotions while watching this hockey game that would hopefully prove to be a relief for some Bostonians. I could not help but think that as a Sabres fan, if we were able to beat Boston, would we look like bad people for not allowing them to win for their city?

The game, while not meaning too much for the city right now, would prove to be a tough battle for both teams. The Sabres are trying to win games so that they can make the playoffs and the Bruins are trying to win for their city, which was successful. With an outrageously loud crowd on hand, the Bruins were unable to hold off the Sabres with a 3-2 Sabres Shootout win. The beginning of the game would be slow and just not all that interesting and important. It needed to be played. Boston needed to get back into a rhythm of everyday things, whether they wanted to or not.

Sabres Ryan Miller would get the nod in goal after having the last two games off and Boston’s Anton Khudobin would start in net for the Bruins. Boston was first on the board just 5 minutes into the game being scored by previous Sabres player, Daniel Paille, his 9th of the year. The Sabres would be able to get onto the board before the end of the first period on a Power Play goal by Thomas Vanek. The second period would prove costly for Buffalo as their poor play in their own end would allow Chris Kelly to give Boston a 2-1 lead with 6 minutes left in the second. The third period would then prove to be a goalie’s game as only one goal was scored by Buffalo with only 30 seconds left to tie the game.

The game would eventually go to a shootout as no goals were able to be scored during the overtime five minutes. Recap of the shootout:
Boston- Seguin- Save
Buffalo- Vanek- Miss
Boston- Bergeron- Save
Buffalo- Gerbe- Save
Boston- Marchand- Save
Buffalo- Stafford- Goal- and the win

Boston’s job for tonight was to help their fans feel better and get some relief from the tragedy that unfolded before them. Whether they were going to win or lose, Boston was going to help their city and the best part of the game was the salute to the crowd by both teams. They may have a big rivalry during the season and game, but the Sabres stood right next to the Bruins for a salute to their fans and their city.

Boston has 6 more games to play, with one being the makeup for the cancelled Monday game against Ottawa. There next game will be in Boston on Sunday against the Florida Panthers. Buffalo has only four games left and are looking at a very slim chance of a playoff run. Their next game is back in Buffalo against the NY Rangers.