11:45AM - Greetings and Happy New Year from Row A in the pressbox at Ralph Wilson Stadium! It is 34 degrees here in Orchard Park, overcast with winds out of the SW at 13MPH, and a few flakes of snow flying in the air. In other words…. PERFECT!

I arrived at the stadium a little after 9:30AM, and immediately headed to the north side of the property to find Kevin Pritchard and his Bfloblog posse. They were already tailgating in full force, and it was nice to meet some of the Bfloblog regulars who until today only knew from being online. Pete, his dad, and Gary Herman and Mike “The King” Casciano arrived a bit later and I bid good bye to the group to get myself situated up here. Oh one more thing… ran into, of all people, Seamus Gallivan, who was such a gracious host for us during our visit to Round Rock, Texas back in September. Seamus was home visiting his family for the holidays, and tells us he got a promotion and will be moving to Corpus Christi to take over their game day presentation.

Now I am inside the stadium, and I am pinching myself - I got a seat in Row A in the pressbox, right on the blue line. I can’t believe my good fortune! Fans are already streaming into the stadium, they are showing interviews and pregame highlights on the big video board. It looks like all systems go for a faceoff after 1 PM.

12:43PM - The two teams are now on the ice, having walked on in ceremonial procession, done to the music of the Celtic Ride Bagpipes. The crowd here is all hepped up and gave the teams a standing ovation as they entered the playing surface. A light misty snow is falling. This is awesome! 

12:55PM - The warmups are finished and the zambonis are doing their thing in preparation for a 1:20PM puck drop. Game day host Kevin Sylvester  is pumping up the crowd, not that they need any help, and everyone here is on their feet. It is absolutely electric. DVR alert - Glad I set up both the CBC and NBC telecasts and pregames. They showed a CBC produced piece on the big board which was a super highlight reel of Sabres moments, including some Aud footage.. can’t wait to watch later. 

1:24PM - The fans are up on their feet, they unfurled American and Canadian flags at each end zone, and after Oh Canada, out came Ronan Tynan to perform The Dead Fat Woman’s Song, accompanied by plenty of pictures of war war war. The crowd, of course, loves it. I’m in too good of a mood to bitch. And before we could even get settled in our seats, Colby Armstrong scores to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Sheesh!

1:35PM - Here’s an interesting observation - NO ONE in the lower bowl is sitting. NO ONE. The folks in row one are all standing to try and get at least a bit of a view from their crappy seats, and as a result everyone else has to stand right up to row 45. I’ll say it again - the upper deck seats, especially close to center, are a screaming bargain at $39.

1:45PM - 9:54 to go in the first period and we’re in our first delay, as the zambonis are out on the ice to do a touch up. The snow has just about stopped falling. Official game time temperature 33.1 degrees.

2:05PM - They showed Rick Jeanneret on the video board during the media timeout and that got a charge out of the crowd. Meantime, Buffalo’s short power play went nowhere, with hopping pucks and broken sticks. The period ends with the Penguins up 1-0.

2:30PM - Second period underway and the place just went nuts as Brian Campbell lights the lamp for the Sabres! Time of goal 1:25 in the second and the score is tied. Sabres playing with much more conviction early on.

2:42PM - We’re halfway through the period and Pittsburgh has yet to record their first shot on goal. Buffalo meanwhile pouring it on but score still tied at one. Media timeout and zambonis are doing a touchup. No snow falling but looks like a hint of drizzle in the air.

3:00PM - Two periods are in the books and the score is tied at one. The Sabres played almost a flawless second period, outshooting the Penguins 14-2, but we’re not able to get the go ahead goal. Some heavy snow showers were coming down in the later part of the period, but the skies have since cleared. Official attendance today: 71,217.

3:30PM - The third period is cruising along and neither team looks like it wants to make a mistake. Still tied at one. Now I’ve already got a thought in case this event ever makes a return visit to The Ralph. In the scoreboard end zone corners they set up video boards on the field so the folks sitting in the first few rows can get a better perspective of the action. They need to set these thingies up all around the field, so the front row fans can take their seat and allow the 100 level patrons to not have to stand for all the action.

3:36PM - We’re at the 10 minute mark and the horn has sounded, just as the NHL said they would do. The teams will now change sides for the final ten minutes of regulation. 1-1.

4:00PM - We’ve had two stoppages to do ice repair, so this game has now slowed to a crawl. 5:36 left on the clock. Nobody has left the stadium. It is one big party here and everyone wants to savor the moment.4:10PM - We’re getting lots of video board shots of guys with their shirts off. I’m sort of tempted to take MY shirt off (*kidding*). Meantime, Thomas Vanek had two great chances to get the go ahead goal in the last minute, including a wrap around that failed to connect. But this game is now headed for OH-VER-TIME! And Buffalo will start off with the man advantage as a penalty has been called at the 20:00 mark.

4:15PM - I gotta give HUGE props to Kevin Sylvester who is doing a yeoman job as game day host on the video board.

4:23PM - Buffalo got five shots on goal during the power play but Conklin came up huge. We’re halfway through and the teams are changing sides for the final 2:30 of overtime.

4:27PM - Well I guess this is just fitting that this game will go to a shootout. What an amazing game this has been! I’m hoping the audiences watching on NBC in the States, and CBC and RDS in Canada are enjoying this as much as we are. I will have one final post with the outcome of the shootout. LET’S GO BUF-FA-LO!!!

SHOOTOUT
Kotalik (Buf) SCORES! 1-0 Buf
Christensen (Pit) MISSES! 1-0 Buf
Connolly (Buf) Misses 1-0 Buf
Letang (Pit) Scores 1-1
Afinogenov (Buf) Misses 1-1
Crosby (Pit) Scores…. 2-1 Pitt

Final Score in a shootout - Pittsburgh 2, Buffalo 1

Mike Harrington just called it - “AN NBC FIX!”

I’ll have a postgame report later tonight.

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