30+ Reasons Why the Sabres HAVE to Win Tonight

Game Seven of this heated first-round series is slated to start at 7:30pm EDT in Philadelphia tonight.  Earlier today I posted an update on Facebook asking for "ANY reasons WHY the Sabres HAVE to win tonight."  The following are a select few of the responses I received along with my thoughts and reasons.  Before we start, just a small disclaimer and advance apology that I'm going to break a basic rule of the English language and start many sentences with because.

So... why do the Sabres HAVE to win Game Seven tonight?

• Because.  -C.G.
• To prove that Lord Stanley's Cup belongs in Hockey Heaven.  -M.R.
• Because the city of Buffalo needs a championship and is more than worthy of one.  Besides the Buffalo Bandits' NLL Championships ('92, '93, and '96 in MILL and '08 in NLL), this city is still starving for a professional championship.  -(Many people)
• So the people of Buffalo can start to believe that there does not have to be a sad ending to every season in Buffalo pro-sports.  -S.G.
• Because road teams have won eight of the last ten game seven's since the start of the 2009 NHL Playoffs.
• So Mike Richards can hit the golf course as soon as possible and begin work on his driving and putting.  Also, so he can rethink all of his dirty plays, that is if he is capable.
• To justify the whooping that Richards is about to receive tonight.
• To win Game Seven for the late #7 upstairs.  -J.S.
• To avenge the hit on Tim Connolly and show Richards which team is superior.
• So Connolly and Jason Pominville, along with many others, can make returns and continue to play hockey this season.
• So we can spare the pain of seeing Peter Laviolette's ugly suits and him getting back to the hotel in Buffalo at 10:00am.
• So I can continue to work at the HSBC Arena Harbour Club with some of the best co-workers there are.  Beers of the World will be lonely without us.  Also, so Cobblestone can remain open through May and enjoy our business after every Sabres home game.
• Because Terry Pegula deserves more than three home games and seven playoff games in total in his first year as owner.  This man has done so much to turn the team around and still has a ton more up his sleeve.
• To experience what exactly Terry Pegula has in store for the home games in Round Two and on.
• So we can continue to enjoy the play-by-play calls of Rick Jeanneret and the random/hilarious/pointless add-ins by Harry Neale.  Who knows what RJ's call will be like when the Sabres win the Cup.  I can only imagine...
• So Ryan Miller can turn a mediocre season into one of his best (M.H.).  So he can have more chances at 1-0 shutouts.  The record for shutouts in a postseason is seven by Martin Brodeur in 2003.  He did it in 24 games.  I know he only has two so far, but I would love to see Miller take a shot at tying or breaking that record.
• So we do not have to shift our focus and hopes to Thursday's NFL Draft where the Buffalo Bills will most likely waste the third overall pick.
• Because if they do not, I might stop breathing.  -C.T. (I hope not man!)
• Because the Sabres simply deserve it more.  They finished the season on a tear and there is no reason that tear should stop now or anytime soon.
• So rookie sensation Marc-Andre Gragnani can outscore the combination of Jordan Leopold, Steve Montador, Andrej Sekera, Chris Butler, Mike Weber, Shoane Morrisonn, Brad Boyes and Michael Grier.  That is before tonight's stats are accumulated.  Gragnani has seven points through six games (1G, 6A).  That is good for a second-place tie in the NHL overall and first among defensemen.
• So the Sabres can upset another higher seed in the Washington Capitals in Round 2, and then upset another in Round 3, and so on... proving that home-ice advantage in the NHL playoffs is meaningless.
• To avenge last season's first round loss, which was also a 2/7 seed match-up.  -R.L.
• So the Sabres can avenge Alex Ovechkin's double-deflection "lucky" overtime winner in Washington on April 2nd.
• Because no one wants the whiny-baby Flyers in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.  -B.C.
• So the Sabres can spoil tonight's would-be party in Philadelphia for all of their cocky hockey fans.
• Because the Liberty Bell is cracked for a reason and because of Rocky V.  -S.G.
• So my 6-year-old cousin, who has suddenly become the biggest Sabres fan, can refrain from tears tonight and still have something to look up to come tomorrow.  I wish you all could see him and his love for the Sabres.
• Because while Philadelphia has statues of fictional characters, the city of Buffalo has statues of Buffaloes (M.R.), and a statue of David with his pepperoni hanging out along the Scajaquada Expressway that I see on the way to school every day.
• Because Brain Boucher is completely worthy of reliving this memory from back in 2001.
• So head coach Lindy Ruff has one more reason to return and coach the team next season.
• And last but not least, so my friend Jonny and former roommate Andrew, who just told me they have decided to make the 6-hour drive to Philadelphia for the game tonight, can have a safe and fun experience.  I want them to make it out of the Wells Fargo Center tonight wearing pride and not beer.  Cheers to you two Jonny & Andy.
  

Thanks for reading.  Feel free to add more in a comment below.