The Buffalo Sabers are back in a place the city has waited years to see, holding a 2-1 edge over the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series. But as the focus stays on the ice, a side story has taken on a life of its own. Bills quarterback Josh Allen found himself at the center of it after Game 2, when his pregame appearance lit up the arena but ended in a Sabers loss. For some, it sparked talk of a “jinx.” Inside hockey circles, though, that idea has not held up.
Did Josh Allen really “jinx” the Sabers in Game 2?
Buffalo’s return to playoff hockey after a 15-year wait has changed the feel around the team. The building is louder, the crowd more invested, and every moment carries weight. Game 2 captured that perfectly before the puck even dropped.Allen, wearing an Alex Tuch goathead jersey, stepped into the spotlight and gave fans exactly what they wanted. He led the “Let’s Go Buffalo” chant, then pulled a beer from his back pocket and chugged it, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was loud, loose, and very Buffalo. He had already said the atmosphere felt electric, adding that the city comes alive when the Sabers are playing meaningful games.Still, the Sabers lost 3–1 that night. That was enough for some to connect dots that did not need connecting. The “jinx” talk picked up quickly, even if it felt more playful than serious.Matthew Tkachuk was not interested in entertaining it. When asked if he would want Allen back on the drum if the series stretched to seven games, his answer came without pause. “Yeah, for sure. Those guys, they get the crowd going more than anybody. It’s all about momentum. You get the biggest dog in the city to get that place shaken. I don’t believe in superstition like that,” Tkachuk said.That response cuts through the noise. And the timing helped. Buffalo responded in Game 3 with a composed 3-1 win, shifting the conversation right back to hockey. The earlier chatter suddenly felt misplaced.What lingered instead was a lighter discussion about who else could take on that pregame role. Names bounced around, from former Sabers players to other local figures tied to Buffalo sports. It stayed in good fun, but the underlying point remained steady.Allen’s presence was never the issue. If anything, it reflected how much this moment means to the city. The Sabers are not just playing playoff hockey again. They are pulling the entire community into it.Now, with Game 4 set in Boston, the focus tightens. Buffalo has a chance to take real control of the series. The noise will travel, even on the road. And the “jinx” idea? That already feels like something left behind after Game 2.
