Sabres pay tribute to Bills safety Damar Hamlin

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports A message isdisplay on the jumbotron paying tribute to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin prior to an NHL hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres paid tribute to Bills safety Damar Hamlin with a moment of celebration before Saturday night’s home game against the Minnesota Wild.

Hamlin is on the long road to recovery after he went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati on Monday night. He is now breathing on his own and briefly addressed the Bills team by video on Friday.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Players pay tribute to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin prior to an NHL hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

The Sabres and Bills are both owned by Terry and Kim Pegula, and the teams’ players have developed a bond and friendships for one another through that connection.

Fans throughout the crowd held up signs saying “DH3” with a heart in it or “Love For Damar” and were shown on the video board showing support for Hamlin. The pregame celebration saw the crowd, with many wearing Bills jerseys, rise to their feet, applauding and cheering for Hamlin.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports A message isdisplay on the jumbotron paying tribute to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin prior to an NHL hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

The Sabres also paid tribute to Hamlin before Tuesday’s game in Washington wearing t-shirts saying “Love For 3” upon arrival at Capital One Arena.

The Bills host the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in the regular season finale.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://www.twitter.com/AP_Sports