Playoff fever is back in the Queen City.
It's been three years since Buffalonians felt the whirlwind of emotions that playoff hockey brings, but finally, the Stanley Cup playoffs are back at the HSBC Arena.
As Northeast division champions, the Buffalo Sabres clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference and assured a chance of hosting up to four home games in the first round of the postseason. As fans rushed the ticket office and flooded online purchasing outlets, the arena's near 20,000 available seats were not nearly enough to satiate passionate Sabres fans.
To celebrate game one of the Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins, Sabres fans without a ticket to the game can make their way downtown and take part in the Party in the Plaza on Thursday evening.
Located on the plaza directly outside the HSBC Arena doors, the admission-free event starts two hours before each home game and will feature live music by The Strictly Hip prior to the 7 p.m. puck drop. The game will then be broadcasted on a projection television screen for spectators in attendance.
Mike Gilbert, a Sabres' spokesperson, is excited about the return of playoff hockey and anticipates fans to be out in full force at the plaza come Thursday.
"We are expecting a few thousand people to show up," Gilbert said. "This is an event for all Sabres fans in general and is a good chance to enjoy the atmosphere of the game."
For Kasim Sallaj, a sophomore biology major and lifelong Sabres fan, the Party in the Plaza is about more than just the food and music.
"I go because of the atmosphere of playoff hockey. Everyone is ready for the game [and] everyone is excited. It's a great time," Sallaj said. "If I didn't go, I'd be watching it at home on my couch. Everyone is there going crazy in ridiculous outfits [and] watching the big screen TV together."
In past years, bad weather has often cancelled the even or prevented plaza-goers from making the trek downtown for the evening. To ensure the party will go on as planned, the Sabres have added the luxury of a 40' x 120' tent to cover the plaza if needed.
"I'm excited that there will be a tent," said Kelsey Digiovancarlo, a sophomore communications major. "If [the weather is bad] or it's raining, I can still see the game."
For the city of Buffalo, hockey is more than just a sport. It is a community event that brings Western New Yorkers together to proudly dawn the blue and gold.
Kinsey Davidson, a senior political science major, has been attending the parties since 2006 and can attest to the feeling of unity that the party-goers share.
"It's a real community for people who don't want to go to the game or don't pay for tickets," Davidson said.
Individual playoff tickets for round one range from $58 to $173, making it rather costly for many fans that want to cheer on the Sabres.
"The tickets always go fast and if you aren't prepared to pay excessive amounts of money on the day of the game you wont get them," Digiovancarlo said.
Davidson feels like events like these are emblematic of the team spirit that the City of Good Neighbors is known for.
"It's a perfect celebration of what Buffalo loves: hockey," Davidson said.
E-mail: features@ubspectrum.com
Party for the playoffs without an empty-wallet hangover
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