FINAL SCORE: Buffalo 3 - Edmonton 4

March 4, 2019

COLD is the first thing I can tell you. I arrived late Sunday night, technically Monday. I grabbed a taxi from the Buffalo airport to the hostel I booked ($35 for the night, but just like DC, I had the entire “dorm” to myself). I check in, then realize how hungry I am. I call an Uber at 2 a.m., and I landed the coolest Uber driver ever.

Jim’s Steakout was open, and I was referred by one of my friends who played hockey at Canisius awhile back. It was definitely drunk people food, greasy and over-the-top, but I was starving, so it was decent. My Uber waited for me and drove me back to my hostel. I got his number and told him I wanted to head to Niagara Falls the next day - he told me to hit him up. I ended up spending the day with my Uber driver going to the falls, going to the bar, then I headed to the game.

Behind Pittsburgh, this is my favorite city. Though, the things to do around the arena in Buffalo are countless, which almost makes the overall experience better. I bought an Eichel shirt, and headed to my seat. Section 103, row 1, on the glass ran me $95. Super cheap, especially with a game that included Eichel versus McDavid. The Sabres were up 3-1 in the third, and blew their lead and lost in regulation. Unbelievable. Every game that I have been to on my tour, the team I have rooted for has won. Streak = broken.

In the beginning of the second period, these two Canadians sit next to me. I turn to them and ask what we were gettin’ into after the game - people never believe that I am there alone and they always offer to go out. We became friends and headed out to a few bars after. I had to catch a flight at 5 in the morning, and they were trying to get me to go party over the border. I was hesitant in getting back over to the Buffalo airport in an Uber from Canada to the US - so, I was smart and went to a different bar in Buffalo. Well, there were a lot of Jagerbombs involved, so as smart as I could be.

Recommended things to do in Buffalo:

I went to Niagara Falls, and let me tell you, please do yourself a favor and go in the summer. It was so cold, and the mist from the water was so intense, my entire jacket FROZE! I could not feel my face, my legs or my hands. I really wanted to go to the Canadian side, and got my passport expedited to me to do so, but it was a pedestrian walkway and I was NOT walking in that frigid air. My Uber driver drove me, which was awesome because otherwise the Uber would have been $60. I asked him if he would drive me to the Canadian side, but he said “uh, I can drop you off right before the border, but I like to smoke weed.” Alright. Buffalo side it was.

I tried out this place called Bada Bing, it was realllllllly good. I had a steak sandwich - nothing like Philly, but still amazing in its own way. After the game, I went to (716) Food and Sport - a huge sports bar with good drinks. Partied with those Canadian broads. Weirdly enough, I ran into people I knew from Tampa while they were bartending - small world, I have ran into someone I know everywhere I’ve gone so far. After, instead of heading into Canada, I had those dudes drop me off at a place called Forty Thieves. My friend is friends with the owner/GM, so he hooked it up. I had tons of shots, drinks, and wings and got charged next to nothing. Of course, tipped really well (you should do that regardless). I tried beef on weck (a huge Buffalo staple), WINGS! Not the sandwich, but wings. So fucking good. The traditional sandwich is with roast beef, caraway seeds, horseradish and au jus. Just imagine a sauce thrown together on chicken, incredible. I had to head to the airport early for a 5:55 flight, so I had my Uber driver come meet me at the bar, we shared the wings and then we headed to a place called Mulligan’s. I kicked his ass in pool, took some jagerbombs with some ex-pro washup hockey dudes, then headed to the airport. Had to make a bar clean at work by noon the next day on no sleep. The life of a traveler.

MVP of the game:

We’re going to skip this until I learn how to take notes on my phone during the game. But overall, the comeback from Edmonton was unreal. I was shocked that Buffalo let them take it.

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