The Boston Bruins were the first team to play since the Boston Marathon Bombing attack and the TD Garden was very emotional as both teams took the ice and the fans responded with a rousing performance of the national anthem that spoke directly to the victims.
The entire arena went silent as a "Boston Strong" video played on the big board and honored victims, while players wore the same saying on decals that were put on their helmets before the game. The team ended up losing 3-2 in a shootout after 41 saves from Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, but that's not what Wednesday night's game was about anyway and the Bruins were able to help the city get back to normal for 60 minutes.
After the game the two teams came to center ice and made a salute to the fans and chanted "We are Boston" and "USA, USA," while at the game and the players felt it was the right thing to do afterwards after a suggestion from the Boston players. The Bruins made it into the playoffs by getting one point out of the game and are now tied with the Canadiens in the Northeast division.
The bombing attack too three lives and injured hundreds more and the Bruins were the first team in the city to have another game since theirs was cancelled on Monday night and the Boston Celtics game as well. The Bruins and the fans had to deal with heightened security, but there were no major incidents at the game and the Bruins were first to score.
Daniel Paille scored the first goal for the Bruins before Thomas Vanek tied it up for Buffalo and Chris Kelly added the second before the Sabres tied things up in the third period, sending it to a shootout, which was won by the Sabres after a goal from Drew Stafford on Anton Khudobin
The Bruins now will face the Penguins at home on Friday as they try to put themselves in better playoff position with just a little under two weeks left in the season.
