Photos: RJ Night at Sabres v. Predators
The Buffalo Sabres honor longtime play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret before the game against the Nashville Predators.
Man of the hour
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a ceremony and a banner unveiled in the rafters before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
RJ
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a ceremony and a banner unveiled in the rafters before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Full house
Buffalo Sabres fans honor play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret as he speaks as he honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
On ice celebration
Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret speaks as he honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.
Honored by the owner
Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula speaks as play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Love for the legend
Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula greets play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret as he honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
History in the house
Buffalo Sabres alumni watcha video as play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Larger than life
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a ceremony and a banner unveiled in the rafters before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Congratulations
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a ceremony and a banner unveiled in the rafters before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Hanging high
Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Packed stadium
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a ceremony and a banner unveiled in the rafters before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Voice of the Sabres
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a ceremony and a banner unveiled in the rafters before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Wave to the fans
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret waves as he is surrounded by his family and Sabres alumni as he is honored with a ceremony before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Formal congratulations
Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret is honored with a ceremony and a banner unveiled in the rafters before the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Honoring RJ
Buffalo Sabres players salute play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret as he honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Ceremonial
Buffalo Sabres announcer Rob Ray (middle) and Brian Duff (right) look on with play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret as Jeanneret is honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Faces in the crowd
Fans hold cutouts of legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret as they arrive for the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Savoring the moment
Buffalo Sabres player ALex Tuch looks on as play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret speaks as he honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Repping RJ
Fans in the 300 level hold cutouts of legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Keepsake
Buffalo Sabres fans get their free banner as play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret has a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)
I was there
Buffalo Sabres fan Cora Hotchkiss displays her banner for play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret as he honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)
Thank you RJ
Buffalo Sabres fan Connie Draper displays her sign for play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret as he is to be honored with a banner bearing his name in the rafters of the KeyBank Center prior to playing the Nashville Predators on Friday, April 1, 2022. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)
No imitations
Bill Koerber of South Buffalo dresses like legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret for the Nashville Predators game at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Hitting hard
Nashville Predators center Mikael Granlund (64) loses his helmet as he is checked to the ice by Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt (37) during the second period at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Go ahead goal
Buffalo Sabres left wing Victor Olofsson (71) celebrates his goal during the second period at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Up the boards
Buffalo Sabres right wing Kyle Okposo (21) passes the puck away from Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) during the second period at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Blocked
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson (41) turns away a shot from Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen (92) during the second period at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022.Â
Center of attention
Longtime Buffalo Sabres play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret poses with the team after their 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators on "Rick Jeanneret Night" at KeyBank Center, Friday, April 1, 2022. (Derek Gee / Buffalo News)
Thanking Jeanneret
Buffalo Sabres fans thank Rick Jeanneret during the third period.
Seats are packed
An overall view as the Buffalo Sabres play the Nashville Predators during the first period.
Dahlin checks Kunin
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin checks Nashville Predators forward Luke Kunin during the second period.
Honoring Jeanneret
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson with a RJ patch honoring Rick Jeanneret.
Clearing a puck
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin clears a puck in the crease of Craig Anderson.
Battling it out
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg battle for a loose puck.
Fans thank RJ
A Buffalo Sabres fans thanks RJ.
Celebrating a goal
Buffalo Sabres forward Victor Olofsson celebrates his goal in the second period.
Posing for a picture
Buffalo Sabres players pose for a picture with Rick Jeanneret after defeating the Nashville Predators 4-3.
Celebrating a win
Buffalo Sabres players pose with Rick Jeanneret after defeating the Nashville Predators 4-3.
Skinner poke checks the puck
Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner poke checks the puck from Nashville Predators player Ryan Johansen during the third period.
Honoring Jeanneret
Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch walks Rick Jeanneret out on the ice after defeating the Nashville Predators 4-3.
Celebrating victory
Buffalo Sabres players celebrate a 4-3 victory around Rick Jeanneret.
Taking it in
Buffalo Sabres players celebrate a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators with play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret.
Blocking a shot
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson blocks a Nashville Predators shot during the closing second of the third period.
The Buffalo Sabres honored longtime play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret in a pregame ceremony Friday in KeyBank Center. Jeanneret is retiring at the end of the month after 51 years with the Sabres.
From Peyton Krebs’ leap into the glass after his opening goal that made the fans roar, to Tage Thompson reaching the 30-goal milestone, the Sabres gave those in attendance more reasons to return in their 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators to kick off the final month of the season.
The roar when Rick Jeanneret walked that blue carpet from the Zamboni entrance to take his place for Friday night's pregame ceremony was epic. And it didn't stop. We haven't heard any sort of ovation like that in KeyBank Center in ages.
Many qualities of these Sabres are like those of the franchise’s great teams. The players have a blue-collar, worker-bee-like determination that resonates with people in Buffalo.
In a wide-ranging interview with serious and humorous moments, Jeanneret discussed his most memorable game, his favorite call, his relationships with players, autograph and photo seekers, and the Sabres' promising future.
Over the course of the season, The Buffalo News has chatted with Jeanneret to keep a diary of the memorable moments of his final broadcasts and even attended his "Sabres Road Crew" tribute in Las Vegas. Here's a look back at the season of "RJ."
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Over the course of the season, The Buffalo News has chatted with Jeanneret to keep a diary of the memorable moments of his final broadcasts and even attended his "Sabres Road Crew" tribute in Las Vegas. Here's a look back at the season of "RJ."
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Rick Jeanneret, the legendary play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Sabres, died Thursday night. Here is a look at RJ through the years.
