Fifteen years years ago today, the Sabres played their first game under owner Terry Pegula, ushering in what promised to be an exciting and successful era by beating the Atlanta Thrashers 4-1 in an emotional HSBC Arena.
We all know how things have turned out since that thrilling night. Still, the Sabres made the playoffs that season, closing the season on a 16-6-4 tear and roaring up the standings after Pegula took over. His presence surely buoyed them down the stretch.
That game felt like the start of something special. Here’s what I wrote:
BUFFALO – Make no mistake, this was Terry Pegula’s night and a chance for the new Sabres owner and the legions of giddy fans energized by his $189 million purchase to celebrate.
The record books will show a 4-1 triumph over the free-falling Atlanta Thrashers snapped the Sabres’ three-game losing streak Wednesday. That was only one small part of the wild night inside HSBC Arena, though.
The game began a new era and another chase for the Stanley Cup, something Pegula has promised to deliver this championship-deprived city at any cost.
Fans anticipated Pegula’s first game like a postseason affair. The buzz began building well before the former Olean resident was introduced as the team’s fourth owner Tuesday. It continued throughout the Sabres’ 28th win and probably hasn’t let up.
At least three signs scattered in the capacity crowd of 18,690 spectators read: “In Pegula We Trust.” Some fans chanted his name. When Pegula came on the ice with his two sons for a pregame ceremony, he received a prolonged standing ovation.
“I had a great time, great time,” an excited Pegula, game puck in hand from coach Lindy Ruff, said afterward in the dressing room.
The Sabres surprised Pegula by having his idol, Gilbert Perreault, the man who brought him to tears a day earlier, skate out with Rick Martin and Rene Robert, the other members of the famed “French Connection.”
“Did you see I almost fell down?” said Pegula, sounding more like a starry-eyed fan than billionaire. “I saw Rene Robert. I said, ‘What’s he doing here? I thought he didn’t come back here.’”
Robert does now. He’s doesn’t detest the new regime. He’s a Pegula fan like so many others.
Pegula spent the rest of the night in the owner’s suite living out a fantasy.
“You know what I was doing the whole game?” Pegula said. “Standing in the back with Gil, Rico and Rene watching the game on the television.”
“Pinch me,” he added.
Ruff loves Pegula’s excitement and passion, something he called “genuine.”
“It’s contagious. It puts a smile on your face,” Ruff said. “Obviously, there’s ups and downs in this game. There’s ups and downs all year long. It was great to get the win, starting with seeing the French Connection on the ice to start the game.”
Minutes after Ruff presented Pegula the puck, he couldn’t even remember who gave him the memento. The day was a blur.
Moments earlier, Pegula had addressed the team.
“He said, ‘You guys saw me in tears during the press conference. It won’t happen again tonight,’” Sabres winger Jason Pominville said. “He just congratulated us and said we worked hard.”
What was Pegula’s favorite moment from the game?
“Tyler’s blast,” he said. “Jeez, are you kidding me?”
He was referring to defenseman Tyler Myers’ laser from the right circle 7:13 into the game, the first goal of the Pegula era. The crowd roared in approval.
“I sensed the buzz all day long,” Ruff said. “You could just feel it. I felt nervous all day long. I was excited but I was nervous. I wanted to make sure we performed well today. I wanted to get a win. I thought a win was real important for our team.”
Myers’ score got the Sabres going, although Andrew Ladd’s power-play tally tied it early in the second period.
Goals from Paul Gaustad and Pominville 30 seconds apart late in the second period put the Sabres ahead. Tyler Ennis’ tally early in the third period sealed it, helping the Sabres stay in ninth place (62 points), two points ahead of Atlanta. The Sabres trail eighth-place Carolina by three points.
The Sabres had dropped the first three games of their season-long six game home stand and four straight overall at home (0-3-1).
With Pegula’s arrival, the playoff implications and recent homes woes, the Sabres had to win Wednesday, no question.
“It was a must-win for us, and to be able to pull it off at home is definitely nice,” Pominville said.
Quietly, Sabres goalie Ryan Miller made a season-high 40 saves, outdueling counterpart Ondrej Pavelec, who stopped 35 shots. Miller, a sieve less than two weeks ago, has allowed only seven goals in the last four games.
Usually, that type of elite effort would generate more chatter. It wasn’t Miller’s night, however. It belonged to someone else.
“I didn’t do anything,” Pegula said after the cameras and microphones swarmed him. “I showed up. You guys should be sticking the mic in their faces. That’s where the credit’s due.”
Many believe Pegula deserves some, too.