Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement, who established a new MLB record with 30 hits during the 2025 postseason, recently banged the drum at a Buffalo Sabres home game and has been keeping close tabs on the team's climb up the NHL standings.
Clement, a Rochester native, is no stranger to the ice. He played hockey while attending Brighton High School, scoring an eye-popping 124 points (70 goals and 54 assists) in 79 appearances while playing four years of varsity puck, per Elite Prospects.
Now he's hoping the Sabres can end their 14-year postseason drought.
"I mean, ever since I went to the game, they've taken off," Clement told Brian Frank of Herd Chronicles. "They've played really, really well. I think that was their third win in a row at the time, and they went on to win 10 in a row. Then I think they did it again. So, they're set up to get to the playoffs for the first time in quite some time. It was a really, really awesome experience."
The Blue Jays star added: "Go Sabres! They've got a chance."
Meanwhile, Clement is in Florida for spring training as Toronto aims to make another run to the World Series. The 29-year-old late bloomer was terrific in last year's Fall Classic, going 12 for 31 (.387 average) as the Jays lost a memorable seven-game battle to the overpowered Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ernie Clement is an example highlighting the strength of the Buffalo Sabres' fanbase
We repeated some version of a similar statement leading up to the 2025-26 NHL season: The Sabres fanbase wasn't dead, it was merely dormant.
Fans from around Western New York still loved hockey, as the television ratings illustrated on a yearly basis, but they were tired of spending their hard-earned money on a losing product. They wanted to see some signs of life before buying back in.
Well, this season's version of the Sabres have certainly delivered.
After a sluggish start to the campaign, Buffalo went on an unexpected (and remarkable) 20-3-1 run to climb above the playoff cut line in the Eastern Conference. The Blue and Gold did lose three of its final four games before the NHL's Olympic break, but they still occupy the East's top wild-card position with play set to resume on Wednesday night.
The club sold out its final five home games before the hiatus, and that helped raise its overall attendance for the season above 90 percent, according to Sabres Attendance Today.
So, whether it's a high-profile supporter like Clement or the everyday fans that make Buffalo one of the top hockey markets in the United States, it's clear people are taking notice of the Sabres' success.
The team's work is far from done, though. The Blue and Gold have 25 games left in the regular season and a seven-game winning streak by the Columbus Blue Jackets has reduced Buffalo's margin for error in the East heading into the stretch run of the campaign.
Expect the KeyBank Center to feature no shortage of electricity over the next couple months as fans attempt to help the Sabres get across the finish line in the playoff race.
A chance to Party in the Plaza is within reach, and that's music to the ears of longtime Buffalo sports fans.