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Yes, Sabres still play Canadian national anthem 'O Canada' even when playing Canadiens in playoffs
TL;DR
The Buffalo Sabres will continue to play both the U.S. and Canadian national anthems before home games, even against the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs. 'O Canada' will be sung first, followed by 'The Star Spangled Banner.'
Key points
- Buffalo Sabres play both U.S. and Canadian anthems
- This tradition continues in playoffs
- Montreal Canadiens are the current playoff opponent
Buffalo SabresMontreal Canadiens
Yes, Sabres still play Canadian national anthem 'O Canada' even when playing Canadiens in playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's become a topic of conversation this postseason: The Buffalo Sabres play both the U.S. and Canada national anthems before their home games.
And yes, that will still be true even when faced with a Canadian opponent in the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens are in Buffalo to open their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday, and you can expect to hear both tunes.
'O Canada' will be sung first, followed by 'The Star Spangled Banner.'
It's been that way for the Sabres since the beginning, a tradition dating back more than 50 years.
They have lots of fans through the years who have come across the border to the arena only a handful of miles away from the country line.
They've had plenty of prominent Canadian players.
Even their team name is spelled in a Canadian style.
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The Sabres' fanbase went a bit viral in Game 5 of the first round when the microphone went out during the singing of 'O Canada,' and the whole arena nailed their rendition together. This is simply how it works at hockey games in Buffalo.
Q&A
Why do the Buffalo Sabres play both national anthems?
The Buffalo Sabres play both the U.S. and Canadian national anthems to honor both countries, regardless of the opponent.
When do the Sabres play 'O Canada' during playoff games?
'O Canada' is played before home playoff games, starting with the anthem before the U.S. anthem.
Who are the Buffalo Sabres playing in the playoffs?
The Buffalo Sabres are facing the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
