08 January 2023 , 20:40
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Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest may have rocked the NFL this week, but the entire sporting world has got behind the Buffalo Bills star.
The Bills clash against the Cincinnati Bengals was postponed on Monday after Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during the first quarter. The sporting world held their breath while he remained in critical condition, but thankfully he is responding well in hospital, and begins on the road to recovery.
NFL sides have paid tribute all week, and have also shown support across the weekend during the final week of the regular season. But just down the road from the Bills, NHL side Buffalo Sabres also showed their support for the NFL star.
The Sabres hosted Minnesota Wild at KeyBank Center on Saturday night, and made sure to use the occasion to pay tribute to Hamlin. Before the puck drop, the arena was lit up in blue while "love for Hamlin 3" was placed on the big screens.
And what a night to mark the occasion, as the Sabres won a thrilling contest against the Wild, scoring in overtime to secure a 6-5 victory. Tage Thompson found himself on the scoresheet once again, but it was a night to remember for Rasmus Dahlin.
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The defenceman picked up five points for the Sabres, scoring two and assisting three others on the night. What's more, is he's only 22 and looks like having a bright future in the NHL.
Dahlin assisted the overtime winner which resulted in wild celebrations, something that the NHL star craves. "I get chills every time I hear that stuff," Dahlin said.
Rasmus Dahlin had the game of his life on Saturday"When they are loud, we just want to win more. We love our crowd. We love our fans." It's not been easy for the Sabres in recent seasons, but they're starting to turn a corner, with young stars leading the way.
"We've had to prove to the fans that we're a competitive team," Dahlin added. The Sabres are fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 20-15-2 record, but they face an uphill battle to catch the likes of Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins.
The Bruins are crushing the division, and are making a statement to the rest of the NHL with their dominance. Their record of 31-4-4 is by far the best in the league, and it's going to take a lot to stop them.
The Sabres are a team in transition, but faith has been restored in Buffalo for the time being. Thompson has been a huge part of that, but Dahlin could prove to be a hero also.