If you do not have Stanley Cup fever yet, just spend a few minutes in Buffalo, New York over the next couple of days. Even if you are not a huge hockey fan, the energy and excitement surrounding the city are impossible to ignore.

Buffalo Finally Has Playoff Hockey Again

For fans of the Buffalo Sabres, this has been an incredibly long wait. The Sabres missed the NHL playoffs for more than a decade, leaving fans wondering if they would ever see postseason hockey return to Buffalo.

Now, that drought is finally over.

With the Buffalo Sabres back in the playoffs, the atmosphere across Western New York is completely different. There is a level of excitement and energy that has not been felt in years.

Buffalo Turns Blue and Gold for Game 1

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Buffalo featured the Boston Bruins coming to town to face the Buffalo Sabres. Getting a ticket was nearly impossible, but that did not stop fans from gathering outside the arena to watch the game on an outdoor screen.

Related: Exclusive New Bourbon for Fans in Buffalo, New York

From every corner of Western New York, fans are wearing blue and gold. Sabres flags are flying, jerseys are everywhere, and the excitement of playoff hockey has taken over Buffalo.

The return of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has rejuvenated the city and reminded everyone just how much Buffalo has missed moments like this.

The Crowd at KeyBank Center Was Unbelievable

New to hockey? Have you never experienced the intensity of a playoff crowd?

The atmosphere inside KeyBank Center reached another level when the Buffalo Sabres broke a 2-2 tie against the Boston Bruins in Game 1. The roar from the crowd was deafening, and videos shared on social media captured just how electric the building became in that moment.

For anyone who has never been part of playoff hockey in Buffalo, this is exactly what it feels like.

Buffalo Fans Have Waited a Long Time for This

Moments like these make you think about all of the loyal fans who stayed passionate through the losing seasons and playoff drought.

There is a saying that has been repeated by Buffalo sports fans for years: “I just want to see one before I die.”

Fans in Buffalo have spent decades dreaming about seeing the Buffalo Sabres win the Stanley Cup. Could this finally be the year?

There is still a lot of hockey left to be played before the Sabres and their fans can lift the Stanley Cup, but one thing is certain: this is a fun and unforgettable time to be in Buffalo, New York.

More From 106.5 WYRK