Key Takeaways
- The Buffalo Sabres will play Game 7 of their playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens tonight at 7:30 p.m. at KeyBank Center.
- Regular anthem singer Cami Clune will not perform the national anthems; instead, a surprise guest vocalist has been booked for the arena performance.
- Cami will still be present at the adjoining “Party in the Plaza” event at Canalside, keeping her connection to the game‑day festivities.
- Fans are speculating widely about who the mystery singer might be, naming possibilities such as Doug Allen, the Goo Goo Dolls, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Young, and other artists with ties to Buffalo or to Terry Pegula’s Black River Records label.
- The Sabres clinched the series‑forcing Game 6 victory in Montreal, setting up a high‑stakes, winner‑takes‑all showdown in Buffalo.
The anticipation surrounding tonight’s Game 7 between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens has taken an intriguing turn off the ice. While the on‑ice battle promises to be a fiercely contested, winner‑takes‑all clash, the arena’s pre‑game ritual— the singing of the United States and Canadian national anthems—has become a talking point in its own right. For most Sabres home games, the duty falls to local Western New York talent Cami Clune, a seasoned vocalist who rose to prominence on The Voice and has become a familiar, beloved presence at KeyBank Center.
However, Cami announced via Facebook earlier today that she will not be handling the anthem duties for Game 7. She explained that a “guest singer” has been brought in to perform inside the arena, while she herself will remain active in the festivities outside, heading to the Party in the Plaza at Canalside. This split‑venue arrangement has fueled a flurry of speculation among fans eager to guess who might be stepping into the spotlight for such a high‑profile moment.
One name that has surfaced repeatedly is Doug Allen, a former Sabres anthem singer whose return would be a nostalgic nod but also raise questions about why Cami would be displaced to the plaza if Allen were simply taking over the indoor duties. Another popular theory points to the Goo Goo Dolls, the Buffalo‑born rock trio whose anthemic sound and hometown pride could make for a stirring rendition. Fans have imagined frontman Johnny Rzeznik delivering the anthem with his characteristic gravitas, wondering what bassist Robby Takac might be doing during the performance—perhaps humming along or coordinating with the arena’s audio crew.
Country music also features prominently in the rumor mill. Both Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Young are signed to Terry Pegula’s Black River Records, the Nashville‑based label owned by the Sabres’ ownership group. The two artists were both in Las Vegas last night for the ACM Awards, leading some to speculate that one of them caught a red‑eye flight to Buffalo after the show to prepare for a surprise anthem appearance. Their polished, radio‑ready vocals would certainly bring a different flavor to the traditional proceedings, and their Pegula connection makes the scenario plausible from a business‑relationship standpoint.
Beyond these specific guesses, the broader conversation reflects the Sabres’ effort to amplify the game‑day experience. By bringing in a recognizable outside act—whether a local legend, a nationally known band, or a country star—the organization hopes to generate additional buzz, draw extra eyes to the broadcast, and give fans a memorable moment before the puck even drops. The fact that Cami will still be visible at the Party in the Plaza ensures that her loyal following isn’t left out; they can enjoy her performance in a more relaxed, festival‑style setting while the anthem guest takes center stage inside the arena.
The stakes on the ice are equally high. The Sabres secured their place in Game 7 with a decisive victory over the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday, forcing a decisive, winner‑takes‑all showdown on home ice. A win tonight would advance Buffalo to the next round, while a loss would end their postseason run. The combination of a tense hockey battle and the mystery surrounding the anthem performer has turned Game 7 into a multifaceted event, blending sport, music, and local pride into a single evening that fans will be talking about long after the final whistle.
In short, while the exact identity of tonight’s guest anthem singer remains unconfirmed, the speculation itself underscores the community’s enthusiasm and the Sabres’ strategy of leveraging cultural moments to heighten the game‑day atmosphere. Whether it’s a hometown rock band, a country chart‑topper, or a familiar former anthem voice, the performance promises to be another layer of excitement in what is already shaping up to be a historic night for Buffalo hockey.