BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....Shortly before 10:45 p.m. Monday dreams and aspirations of the Buffalo Sabres' making a deep run towards the NHL's Stanley Cup ended.
In a split second, a jammed Canalside watch party saw jubilation turn into stunned silence.
"I've never seen a crowd go quiet so quickly," quipped one of the Canalside's security guards.
But that's what happened after the Montreal Canadiens won their tense, seven game playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres by scoring a 3-2 overtime win.
Younger fans were wiping away tears while older members of the Sabrehood were more philosphical.
'"It's a tough way to lose...to lose in overtime," said Spencer Balin of Lockport. "But, we will be back next year."
Between the 19,070 fans inside KeyBank Center plus Canalside's estimated 15,000 fans and 3,000 more fans at Alumni Plaza slightly more than 37,000 people were watching the game within a few blocks of each other.
Downtown Buffalo was jammed on normally would have been a quiet Monday evening.
"It was a season to be proud of,"" said Jason, a self-described die hard Sabres fan.
Even with loss to the Canadiens, Sabres fans say the team is headed upward
Even with loss to the Canadiens, Sabres fans say the team is headed upward
