If you like winning, it's been tough to be a Sabres fan this year.

The team knows that fans have stuck with them, though. For that, they're giving back in the form of Fan Appreciation Night. The Sabres will host a Party on Alumni Plaza from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the plaza outside of First Niagara Center. The party will feature live music, appearances by Sabretooth and select Sabres alumni, Sabres merchandise giveaways, a pom-pom handout, as well as face painting and activities for kids. Tops Friendly Markets and partners will also be on hand with food sampling kiosks.

Inside the arena, in a pre-game ceremony, the Sabres will present the annual team awards for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Unsung Hero and the 7th Man Award.

Fans attending the game on Sunday will be treated to a pre-game handout, a 40% off discount at the Sabres Store, and discounted concession prices including $2 hot dogs, $4 pizza slices, and $3 souvenir sodas.

Two fan-favorite giveaways will make their return to Fan Appreciation Night. Sabres players will again give away their game-worn jerseys to select season-ticket holders after the game in the “Jersey Off My Back” promotion. Another returning favorite is the post-game balloon drop, in which 2,000 balloons will be dropped from the arena’s rafters after the game’s final buzzer. Hundreds of the balloons will contain prize slips that can be redeemed that night.

Fans can also visit Sabres.com for a chance to win the grand prize of four round-trip airline tickets from Delta Air Lines. One winner will be randomly selected on Thursday and will receive tickets to the Sabres-Islanders game on Sunday. At the game, that person will participate in a contest for a chance to win the grand prize. Online registration ends at noon on Wednesday.

Another component returning to this year’s Fan Appreciation Night is a chance for fans watching the Sabres broadcast on MSG to win prizes throughout the game. To participate in this contest, fans can scan a QR code that will be displayed on their TV screen during both intermissions and after the game or visit the website that will be displayed with the QR code. Prizes for the broadcast portion of Fan Appreciation Night include an autographed Sabres jersey and a pair of season tickets for the 2014-15 Buffalo Sabres season. Winners will be announced by Brian Duff during the game broadcast and prior to the post-game show on MSG.

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