Buffalo Sabers HC sends strange message to fans

The Buffalo Sabers are riding an 11-game winless streak, and their next opponent is a rival from north of the border. When the Sabers hit the ice again, it will be in Buffalo, hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Buffalo may have one of the strongest fan bases in the league, but Sabers fans may be slightly outnumbered when the Maple Leafs come to visit. Maple Leafs fans are known to travel well around the league, but games in Buffalo often resemble Toronto home games.

Sabers head coach Lindy Ruff is aware of the Maple Leafs’ fan base and their ability to invade Buffalo. Throw in the current losing streak and the number of Maple Leafs fans could far outweigh the number of Sabers fans in KeyBank Center.

With a ton of uncertainty surrounding the Sabers and the state of the team, Ruff had a peculiar message not often heard from a head coach prior to a home game.

“If we play well, we can take the fans out of the game.”

The exact quote was taken a little out of context, but it still feels wrong to say before a home game.

Ruff was apparently referring to taking the Maple Leafs faithful out of the game and letting the Sabers fans in attendance take over, but it still lands weird.

There was a preface to the now-viral quote from Ruff that clears things up a bit more.

“You have to embrace the challenge,” Ruff said. “It’s not what you want to see in your building. We have a challenge ahead of us. It’s all about the two points, it’s not about the fans.”

Maple Leafs fans are passionate and travel well, which means there will be plenty in Buffalo tonight. Even with an 11-game winless streak, it’s up to the Sabers to protect their home court and get out of their funk.

A win over one of the best teams in the league, which happens to be a cross-lake rival, could play a big role in getting the Sabres’ season back on track.

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