More than just a win 2/13/09

Tonight's win against the San Jose Sharks was more than just a win for the city of Buffalo...

The tragic crash of Continental Express flight 3407 was lingering in the minds of every single person in HSBC Arena Friday night. It was a devastating tragedy known widely across the country. The nation weeps for the lives taken due to the terrible crash. The Buffalo Sabres game still went on.

With a moment of silence before the game, it showed that everyone in the arena was deeply affected, fans, players, and coaches. However, the fans, players and coaches knew that there was a job to be completed that night, which was to be on the winning end of a match against the San Jose Sharks. The Sabres came out on all cylinders. The hits became harder, the shots became faster, and the fans were cheering louder than ever. All of that lead to Jason Pominville's redirected goal from Craig Rivet's shot to tie the game with 3.9 seconds left on the clock, and Ryan Miller's game winning save.

But I find something more valuable than a win against the best team in the Western Conference... I saw a city come together in a time where people needed to unite as one to get over a tragedy. I found it a beautiful moment for the city to come together through the hometown team of the Buffalo Sabres. It shows the beauty of sports and its benefits for the city. Tonight's win was more than just a hockey game... It was a city coming together during a devastating time. Tonight wasn't just a win for the Sabres, it was a win for the city of Buffalo as well.