Buffalo Sabres fans, let me take you back. All the way back to January 1, 2008, when the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first-ever “Winter Classic” at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills. It marked only the fifth outdoor game in NHL history and the first since 2003 when the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens faced off in the Heritage Classic.
The atmosphere was just incredible. Over 71,000 people were in attendance. The temperature was – obviously – chilly. And just as the teams headed for puck drop, a light snowfall presided over everything, making the entire football stadium into one big giant snow globe.