The Vancouver Canucks escaped a snowstorm in Buffalo and arrived in time for their next game in Columbus.
The Vancouver Canucks are no longer trapped in Buffalo.
The city of Buffalo faced blizzard conditions over the weekend, made worse by what meteorologists call “lake-effect snow,” as cold air moves across the Great Lakes, producing narrow bands of heavy snow.
The Buffalo Bills’ playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was postponed to Monday due to heavy snow, but the Canucks-Buffalo Sabers game was played as scheduled on Saturday, with the Canucks winning 1-0.
What didn’t go as planned was the Canucks’ travel after the game. They intend to arrive in Columbus, Ohio, well in advance of their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, scheduled for 1 p.m. local time and 10 a.m. PT, and plan to fly out of Buffalo after the game. Ta. However, due to a snowstorm, all aircraft were grounded and all flights in and out were canceled, leaving the Canucks stranded overnight in Buffalo.
The Canucks didn’t appear to be able to leave Buffalo until Sunday morning. Although a passenger and commercial vehicle travel ban was still in effect Sunday morning in much of Erie County, including the city of Buffalo, the Canucks were unable to leave the city and cross the border into Canada. Ta. We will be flying out of Toronto, Ontario.
The plane, with flight number ACA7037, one of two numbers the Canucks typically use on charter flights, was scheduled to fly from Toronto to Columbus at 2 p.m. local time, but its scheduled departure time was changed to 6:10 p.m. postponed.
That means the Canucks need to be in Columbus by Sunday evening, giving them enough time to get a good night’s sleep before Monday’s odd-time game.
At least the Canucks don’t have to spend any more time in Buffalo.