Video: Sabres Tease Zamboni Gravy Boat Fan Giveaway for Nov. 27 Game vs. Wild
Mike Chiari@@mikechiari
Featured Columnist IVNovember 20, 2024
The Buffalo Sabres are set to leave their mark on Thanksgiving celebrations across Western New York by virtue of a unique fan giveaway at an upcoming game.
On Wednesday, the Sabres posted a teaser video for a gravy boat giveaway in conjunction with their Nov. 27 home game against the Minnesota Wild:
Buffalo Sabres @BuffaloSabresIntroducing the GRAAAVVVY BOAT‼️<br><br>Be here November 27 and get yours → <a href="https://t.co/J9d6ugBlTk">https://t.co/J9d6ugBlTk</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoBuffalo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoBuffalo</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sabrehood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sabrehood</a> <a href="https://t.co/8iPy3gjLsq">pic.twitter.com/8iPy3gjLsq</a>
The game is taking place the night before Thanksgiving, and the first 10,000 fans in attendance at KeyBank Center will get their hands on a gravy boat made to look like a Sabres Zamboni.
As part of the video, the Sabres got into the Thanksgiving spirit by giving some of their players Thanksgiving-themed nicknames, such as JJ Peterka as JJ Pe-Turkey, Jordan Greenway as Jordan Green Bean Casserole and Alex Tuch as Alex Tuchy Leg.
The night before Thanksgiving is typically a huge night out in Buffalo, and the quirky gravy boat gimmick may compel more Western New Yorkers to spend the night enjoying a Sabres game.
It has been a rough go for the Sabres over the past several years, as they are in the midst of the longest playoff drought in NHL history, having missed out on the postseason in 13 consecutive campaigns.
In an effort to bust out of the slump, the Sabres brought back the last head coach to lead them to the playoffs in Lindy Ruff.
Ruff is the winningest head coach in Sabres history with 579 regular-season victories. He also won 57 playoff games in eight playoff appearances.
Overall, Ruff has 872 regular-season wins as an NHL head coach with the Sabres, Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils, placing him fifth on the all-time list behind only Scotty Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Barry Trotz and Paul Maurice.
Ruff is the only coach in the top five in wins who has yet to win a Stanley Cup, though, the Sabres are one of only 10 NHL franchises without a Stanley Cup triumph.
The Sabres are off to an up-and-down start so far this season at 8-9-1, but Ruff at least has them in the playoff mix, which is more than can be said for most of the Sabres' coaches during their lengthy drought.
There will be no dry spell for the first 10,000 fans in attendance at next Wednesday's game, though, as the Sabres gravy boat will undoubtedly be the perfect vessel with which to ensure moist and delicious turkey and fixings on Thanksgiving.