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Sabres Game Night Open Thread

January 3, 2023, 9:10 PM ET [1183 Comments]
Hank Balling
Buffalo Sabres Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Buffalo Sabres are set to take on the Washington Capitals tonight at 7 pm as they conclude a three-game road-trip, but it feels like everyone’s thoughts are still with Damar Hamlin as he remains in a Cincinnati hospital following last night’s horrible events.

The Sabres did not hold any media availability today out of respect for the critically injured Bill.

New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff, an off-season resident of Western New York, did address the New Jersey media regarding the incident.



It's no secret that Ruff is a Bills fan as he was photographed wearing a Bills covid mask on the ice during the pandemic, but his ability to put things into human terms transcends sports.

Last night’s Bills game brought me back to the 2008 Richard Zednik Panthers/Sabres throat-cutting incident in all the worst ways. I attended that game with my uncle, cousin and a friend, and we were seated in the corner where Zednik received his injury. The intervening moments between the injury and the PA announcement that Zednik was stable resulted in a profound and sudden understanding about the fragility of the human body and an awareness of how quickly things can turn sideways in professional sports. That night, in a largely pre-smartphone era, the crowd sat in stunned silence awaiting any positive news while the ice crew did their best to clean up the playing surface. That silence seemed to last for hours.

The eventual PA announcement that Zednik was stable resulted in thunderous applause from the crowd as those in attendance were finally able to let out a relieved breath.

There has been no such moment so far regarding Hamlin’s status.

It’s difficult to focus on hockey right now, so I’m going to leave this blog short. If any readers have words of encouragement for Hamlin to share, I’d highly encourage it. Hopefully people are able to take their mind off things by watching the Sabres tonight.

My thoughts are with Damar Hamlin and his loved ones.

I hope to soon hear a public address announcement that he’s going to be alright.
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