Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Thursday was a memorable night for several Buffalo Sabres fans, who celebrated the reunion of the 2005-06 team that resonates in the minds of many following their remarkable run to the Eastern Conference Final.
A large number of the players from that roster made the trip back to Buffalo for the night's festivities, including the likes of Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, Ryan Miller, Derek Roy, Jochen Hecht, Henrik Tallinder, Maxim Afinogenov and more.
The lead-up to the game allowed many Sabres fans who remember that team to reflect on what a special group that was that took a city by storm.
"It brings back a lot of memories, because they almost won the [Stanley] Cup that year, and it was fascinating," said Sean from Cheektowaga. "This city hasn't had playoff hockey in a long time, and it looks like, hopefully, this team currently will kind of repeat that. It's been a long time, so hopefully they could do that. But as far as the '05-06 team, they were fantastic, and there's still a lot of memories."
"It was the first team I really remember as a kid, and it's what really made me fall in love with hockey, and continue to keep going to all the games, even through the drought here," said Luke from Grand Island. "Afinogenov was my favorite player, he's probably my favorite athlete of all time. I just have a lot of love for that team."
"I was a kid, first of all, 20 years ago, but my first memory's of those guys being a good team," echoed Nick from Clarence. "I remember the years before that, 7-, 8-years-old, not very good. And then out of the lockouts, they came flying. Exciting hockey, fast, they could score, they could skate."
Many fans remember before the 2005-06 season started, there were not many people picking the Sabres to be much of a good team. However, the team managed to find their footing and make a run that many in Buffalo will never forget.
"They pulled the rug out from under us, as far as expectations go. The season started, we didn't really expect too much, and they just kind of took the city by storm, and we were in it. Next thing you know, we're blown out Philly, 8-2, in the playoffs. It was just an awesome year," said Darren from Cheektowaga.
For fans like Dave from Buffalo, some of his core sports memories come from that group during their magical playoff run.
"I used to have to go to bed before the game was over. I couldn't watch the whole game from the first period-to-third period, but what my mom would do is she would wake me up after they scored, like an overtime-winning goal. ... She would come in and be like, 'Drury scored.' I still remember that so vaguely, that happiness of waking up literally from a dead sleep to hear that Briere scored or Drury scored. Those are the memories I think about the most," said Dave with WBEN.
"That first playoff run - especially that Game 1 against Philly - I just remember exactly where I was, my grandma's house watching it, staying up late. It was double overtime, that goal would probably be the No. 1 thing that stands out to me, and like watching good hockey and having a good team here," Nick recalled. "Especially being a kid, getting to 10-years-old and not having a good Bills team yet or a Sabres team, to that point"
While there were the specific moments - Brian Campbell's hit on R.J. Umberger, Daniel Briere's double-overtime winner against the Philadelphia Flyers, overtime winners against the Ottawa Senators, or Briere's heroics in Game 6 against the Carolina Hurricanes - some fans look back on the collaboration of moments that makes the group so special.
One particular fact about that group from the 2005-06 season is many of the players in Buffalo were beloved by many fans.
"Maxim Afinogenov, obviously Briere, Drury. Those names, every time you see highlights from that year, it brings back a lot of memories," Sean said.
"'Millsy' [Ryan Miller] is definitely one of them, and then I would say Jay McKee and Chris Drury. And don't forget Danny [Briere]," Darren added.
"I don't really have a personal favorite, honestly. I think when I was younger, you kind of drew towards more the tough guys, the guys who are fighting and having big hits. I think like a [Paul] Gaustad or even like [Andrew] Peters was part of those teams, Adam Mair. Those types of guys, I think I remember them the most, because they were just so tough getting in corners and stuff like that," Dave interjected.
"It was definitely great to have those franchise cornerstones that were with the team for a long time, and were really the identity of the team for a while," Luke said.
As for the game itself, the Sabres came away with a 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,070 at KeyBank Center. Tage Thompson contributed on every Buffalo goal, including three goals to complete his ninth hat-trick with the Sabres.
With the victory, Buffalo now sits alone in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and have earned 15 wins in their last 17 games played.
After a slow start to the season in Buffalo, many Sabres fans can see the striking similarities between this group of players now under head coach Lindy Ruff, compared to the 2005-06 team that was also coached by Ruff.
"I think it's reminiscent of what that team was like back then, and just not giving up and pushing forward. Maybe it has to do with Lindy being back, pushing the team towards being better, finishing games and not giving up when things start to get a little bit tough towards the end of the game. But there's definitely some similarities, seeing them bond and just push towards finishing games," said Sarah from Medina.
"It's been very, very exciting, especially the past month or so. It's bringing back that spark from back in the day, back on those old teams. And it seems like they've finally hit their stride and figured it out, and they're playing well. And the crowd in the arena is back into it, people are coming back. It's been a lot of fun," Luke said.
Fans like Darren even feel this team now is built very similar to the team that thrived in the 2005-06 season.
"You've got a lot of speed, you've got a lot of skill. You didn't have the expectation to start the year, and you just had a team that was just kind of written off and forgotten. They just came out and said, 'No, no, we're going to be good this year,'" he said.
"This team, they feel like they have the juice, similar to the '05-06 team. A slower start, but this win streak especially, they're coming out, they're flying, they're hitting, they're scoring, they're getting some saves too, which has been huge," Nick added. "I think a lot of those similarities are showing, and that's why we're having some success right now."
And while there's still plenty of season left, fans will continue to ride the vibes of the team's success.
"They're on a run, and I can tell they're actually enjoying playing hockey," Dave said. "And I think back '05-06, they were winning together in a city that loves when they're winning, and they kind of rode that almost all the way to the Stanley Cup. But you can kind of feel it. It was this roller coaster that was going at the perfect speed and the perfect direction, and it was cool."