The fiancée of Buffalo Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin, Carolina Matovac, made a heartfelt return to the arena Wednesday night, months after undergoing a life-saving heart transplant following heart failure during a trip to France.
Matovac was shown on the jumbotron during the game against the Boston Bruins, receiving a roaring welcome from fans. Dahlin also appeared on the screen, smiling at the crowd's reaction.
In an open letter, Dahlin shared that Matovac had been ill during their trip, leading to major heart failure. She received multiple rounds of CPR before being stabilized and eventually receiving a transplant in France.
Matovac remained on life support for weeks before the transplant. She later revealed she was pregnant when her heart failed, and she expressed love for the child she never met.
Despite time away to support Matovac during her recovery, Dahlin remains second on the team with 65 points as the Sabres aim to end a 14-season playoff drought.