For about two and a half minutes inside the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Tuesday night, the simmering Canada-U.S. tensions seemed to melt away just a bit, all thanks to the stirring voices of some 19,000 people in the stands.
Anthem singer's microphone fails
As the team's official anthem singer Cami Clune started singing O Canada ahead of a playoff game against the Boston Bruins, her microphone crackled and started to die. The crowd of almost entirely Sabres faithful didn't miss a beat and picked up immediately singing the song from the third line of "True patriot love." Their voices grew louder still as Clune's mic cut in and out as she tried to join in. Eventually, the mic goes silent and the crowd grows even louder as it sings the anthem to completion, ending with a chorus of applause.
Clune was then handed a fresh mic and delivered a rousing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner as the patriotic crowd accompanied.
Crowd praised for unity
"Well that was interesting," Clune (pronounced like Clooney) posted to X after. "Thank you all for singing along with me. We have the best fans ever!"
The moment was captured on video and shared widely, with many praising the spontaneous display of goodwill amid ongoing trade tensions between the two countries.
