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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for OBB Media - FANATICS STUDIOS)

For the first time since the spring of 2011, the Buffalo Sabres are not only back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but have advanced to the second round for the first time since their run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2007.

Sabres fever has completely gripped Western New York, who hope to see their club advance to the Stanley Cup Final for what would be the first time since their heartbreaking loss to Brett Hull and the Dallas Stars in 1999.

The Sabres currently enjoy a one game to none lead over the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, and there was a special guest from the local area in attendance at KeyBank Centre, who reveals that he’s always been a Sabres fan at heart.

Former NFL Tight End Rob Gronkowski Is A Sabres Fan At Heart

Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, who won multiple Super Bowls during his time playing with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, chatted with analyst Jackie Redmond during the second period while wearing the jersey of former Sabres enforcer Rob Ray.

“I’ve been a Rob Ray fan my whole life, I just love the way he played the game, he’d be the goon and just fight everyone on the ice, I respect it,” Gronkowski told Redmond. “That’s how I played the game of hockey all the way to the ninth grade.”

“I was always decking people, decking them.”

Gronkowski played hockey until the age of 14 before he began playing basketball and, of course, football. When asked what his own version of a celebration on the ice would be, he said that he might considering spiking the puck as he infamously did to the football after scoring a touchdown.

“That’s a good one, I’ve never spiked the puck before,” he said. “I’m all about celebrating with my teammates, hockey is a team sport and that’s what it’s all about.”

The Sabres, who hadn’t been to the playoffs since 2011, gave Gronkowski, who is an Amherst, New York native, much to cheer about during that time.

“I’ve been a Sabres fan my whole life, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “But it worked out, the Sabres haven’t been great, and not even good actually, for the last 14 years. The whole time I was in Boston and Tampa, I became a Bruins fan and a Lightning fan. I know those guys, I know the coaches, they’re all great people. But truly deep down in my heart, I’ve been a Sabres fan. It’s great to see them back and it’s the perfect time to cheer for them again.”

The Sabres Found Themselves Trailing By Multiple Goals To The Canadiens

Unfortunately for the Sabres right at the end of the power-play, Alex Newhook scored his second goal of the game, giving the Canadiens a commanding 3-0 lead near the midway point of the second period.

The Habs, who were beaten by Buffalo 4-2 in Game 1, got goals in the opening 20 minutes of play courtesy of Alex Newhook and Mike Matheson.