It all sort of unfolded in a surprisingly natural way. Just two days before Buffalo’s first playoff game in 15 years, a 60-year-old man drove about 90 minutes to a suburb of Rochester to purchase a body-opponent bag, colloquially known as “Bob the Dummy,” through Facebook Marketplace. Meanwhile, a group of enthusiastic Sabers fans, dubbed the Blades Gang, were milling about the KeyBank Center earlier that same April day.
During a pregame celebration on April 19, as Nick Mastrokovo positioned a dummy dressed in a Bruins jersey near the Blade Gang, one member took a swing at it. The crowd went wild. Another member tackled the dummy from behind, leading to a viral moment. When the Sabers played their second game, Mastrokovo and his cousin donned referee jerseys, just in case things got a bit unruly. The Blade Gang even traveled to Boston for another game—suddenly, Buffalo’s playoff hockey scene felt electric.
This quickly became a pivotal aspect of the tournament.
“Without the dummies, I don’t think they’d be as popular…and honestly, I don’t think they’d get as much love,” Mastrokovo shared in a conversation.
For over a decade, the Washington/Perry intersection has felt empty during this time of year. The season typically ended in December. In April, you’d usually hear about coaching changes. The Sabers were often the punchline in national broadcasts. But things shifted when Buffalo faced a tough December, plunging to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Their remarkable comeback not only secured the Atlantic Division title but also advanced the team to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 18 years, with Game 1 set against the Canadiens this Wednesday.
Mastrokovo highlighted the fans, calling them “just crazy people.”
“When you go shopping around Buffalo, you can’t miss the merchandise. I remember wearing a Crosby shirt, and now I’m noticing kids in Sabers jerseys,” he remarked.
After years of disappointment, fans have a reason to navigate the crowded streets towards downtown Buffalo. The familiar scent of Cheerios from the General Mills factory adds a nostalgic touch to the excitement.
Despite the Sabers being one of the ten NHL teams yet to claim a Stanley Cup—though they came close in 1999—the city has always held a special place for hockey, shaping its sports identity alongside the Bills and their antics.
Mastrokovo fondly recalled his mother cleaning up the visiting locker room at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. As a child, he had hamsters named Rick and Martin, inspired by the Sabres’ famous French Connection. The team has woven into his life for so long, even as they fell just short in the Eastern Conference Finals of 2006 and 2007.
Some playoff runs feel expected. This one? Not so much.
Alex Tuch, who scored 33 goals during the regular season and added four more in the first round, teased the wild atmosphere ahead. “I hope we have plenty of officers and firefighters on duty,” he joked, “because I can just tell—it’s going to be wild.”
Tickets have seen a significant price increase. Local shops are re-stocked with Sabers gear, and the Canalside Watch Party shared the hype on broadcasts. A moment during Game 5, where fans sang along after singer Cami Clune’s mic malfunctioned, captured the soaring energy on social media.
When the Sabers returned victorious from Boston, fans flocked to the airport to celebrate the team’s win. They even brought a dummy, still sporting Cam Neely’s jersey. Players couldn’t resist recording their drive as fans clamored for selfies with Mastrokovo’s dummy, who became something of a local celebrity.
It was all in good fun, he joked, recalling a conversation with the woman who sold him the dummy, who remarked:
“This was the best marketplace sale I’ve ever had,” he reminisced.
Now, the question remains—how long will this excitement persist? With stars like Tage Thompson (40 goals) and Rasmus Dahlin (74 points), along with goaltender Alex Lyon, the season could carry on through June.
Mastrokovo hopes this momentum will carry into future seasons. For now, there are guaranteed four more games against the Canadiens, including two where his dummy will sport a simple red Montreal jersey, inspired by Guy LaFleur.
The combination of dedicated fans, the antics surrounding the dummy, and lively watch parties promise to remain central in Buffalo’s playoff journey.
“This is just the beginning. 100 percent, let’s go,” Mastrokovo asserted.
