HALL: How much are you enjoying these comebacks?

What. Just. Happened.

That about sums up my thoughts on Tuesday night's comeback win over San Jose at KeyBank Center, giving the Sabres two points in a game that was looking bleak going into the third period. As I happened to explain to a fan during the second period of the game, I love an exciting third period even more than most people might.
It's usually the first chance I get to truly watch the game, with all the running around I do the floor during the first two periods and intermissions as the in-arena host. It was amazing to feel the building come back to life a little more with each of the four unanswered goals and be part of each and every celebration!

Tuesday's game will not just be remembered for the way it ended, but also because it was the first time we celebrated "You Can Play" night as an organization. The You Can Play project has partnered with the NHL since 2013, and encourages athletes and fans to practice inclusion, acceptance, and respect for all other athletes, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Our guys showed their support for You Can Play, and the NHL's "Hockey is for Everyone" month, by using multicolored tape on their sticks (or in Evander Kane's case, the letters on his jersey), during warmups. The sticks are up for auction here.

If you want a Sabres pride T-shirt like the one I wore to the game (which sold out in one day), they are in the process of restocking them at the Sabres Store. Call (716) 855-4140 to reserve yours!

Another memorable moment happened during our home win over Ottawa on Saturday.
When I saw a man holding this sign in the concourse before the game, I said, "We have to put you on the video board with that."
Then when he appeared in both a taped feature and then live from his seats in the 100 level, the crowd went wild! We were especially glad we got to send them home with a Sabres win!

Valentine's Day is in less than a week, and if you're coming to Thursday's game against Anaheim, you might win a diamond!
We worked with Reeds Jenss for this special giveaway. At the gates that night, we'll be handing out gift cards good for $50 off your next jewelry purchase of $95 or more at Reeds. Make sure you save your card and take it in to one of their locations before Valentine's Day (Tuesday, Feb. 14) and have it scanned. You could be one of five lucky fans to win a half-carat diamond!
Also coming up this month is our annual Sabres Blood Drive with Unyts. Hundreds of fans have already signed up to donate in the Lexus Club at KeyBank Center on Monday, Feb. 13.

Prizes for donors include tickets to games and a chance at an arena tour from Coach Dan Bylsma! If you can't make it on the 13th, you can donate at any Unyts Neighborhood Donation Centers between Saturday, Feb, 11 and Thursday, Feb, 16, and still have a chance at the prizes. Visit http://unyts.org/team-unyts to make your appointment!

Later this week, you'll be able to see a special piece we have been working on from our recent road trip to Nashville. While in town to cover the Parents Trip, we were also able to make a special moment happen for a big Jack Eichel fan who lives in a suburb of the Music City.
Inspired by Dan Dunleavy's now famous "Add One to the Eichel Tower" call, 8-year-old C.J. Gworek and his dad, John (who grew up in Buffalo), have gained internet fame by building a tower made of pucks named after Jack. They number each one and add to it every time Jack scores.

Throughout the last year of doing this, C.J. has always wondered if Jack knew about it. He got his validation when Jack came out to meet him after morning skate the day of the game against the Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
You can see our full video feature of their interaction, and C.J. adding a couple extra pucks to the tower after the game that night thanks to Jacks two goals, here at Sabres.com on Friday.

Which brings this blog post full circle… to another crazy comeback. The game in Nashville provided us with plenty of great material for our behind-the-scenes feature about that leg of the annual parents' trip.
You think watching a team erase a two-goal deficit and win in overtime is exciting? Try watching it with a room full of the people who've been there rooting them on since their first time in skates.

The clip of Jack's dad reacting to his game winner with the other parents perfectly captures the emotion of the night. The photos and videos from their celebrations outside the locker room are equally as sweet, like the group hug Ryan and Cal O'Reilly got from their parents, Brian and Bonnie.

And speaking of these guys back when they were in their first pair of skates, here's a bonus feature from the trip.
We had fun quizzing the parents on some of the most important numbers of their sons' early playing careers, and is that shade Sam Gionta is throwing at his son on the skate size question? You decide!