The NFTA will offer free rides along the entire length of the Metro Rail system from 5 am to 11:59 pm on Friday to accommodate the thousands of hockey fans in Buffalo attending the NHL draft at First Niagara Center.  The first round of the draft is on Friday night with subsequent rounds on Saturday.  

The 5,000 tickets for the event that were dedicated to the Buffalo Sabres were quickly gobbled up mainly by season ticket holders.  The remaining tickets were divided among the other 29 teams, the prospects, their agents and families, league officials and media.  So a lot of people who may be unfamiliar with the area will be in town and to help transport them they can ride Metro Rail for free.

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[Facebook][/caption]An option for those without tickets is the free NHL Draft FanFest at Canalside.  The party runs from 4 pm to 10 pm with televised coverage of the draft shown on two large screens beginning at 7 pm.  The event includes games, live music, food trucks and a children's zone.  Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek will make an appearance from 5 to 6:30 pm.  Gilbert Perreault is also expected to make an appearance.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the first pick in the draft.  The Sabres pick 8th.

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