For Buffalo Sabres fans, June 19, 1999, is a date etched in infamy. It marks the 26th anniversary of the "No Goal" game, a moment that continues to sting and spark debate among hockey fans. In Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Dallas Stars, Brett Hull scored in triple overtime, seemingly clinching the championship for Dallas. However, replays showed Hull's skate appeared to be in the crease before the puck, a violation of the NHL rules at the time.

The controversy erupted immediately. Sabres players protested, and fans were incensed. The rule stated that if any part of a player's skate was in the crease when the puck crossed the goal line, the goal should be disallowed. Countless goals were called back during the regular season due to this rule. However, the NHL stood by the call, stating that Hull had possession of the puck before his skate entered the crease, therefore making the goal legal.

This explanation did little to quell the outrage in Buffalo. Many found it hard to believe that the NHL would alter the interpretation of a rule so late in the season, especially with a Stanley Cup on the line. Adding to the frustration, some suggest the league communicated a change in the rule to teams before the playoffs but failed to make a public announcement.

In his Hockey Hall of Fame induction speech in 2009, Brett Hull addressed the controversy, stating, "We all knew that they had changed the rule, but obviously the NHL decided they weren't going to tell anybody but the teams... They changed the rule to say if you have control in the crease, you can score the goal, and that's exactly what it was. But nobody knows that. You can tell people that a million times and they just will not listen."

The "No Goal" has had a lasting impact on the Sabres and their fans. The team hasn't reached the Stanley Cup Final since 1999, and the memory of that controversial loss continues to haunt the franchise. For many fans, it represents a turning point, a moment when their Stanley Cup dreams were snatched away by a questionable call.

While time may heal some wounds, the "No Goal" remains a raw nerve for Sabres fans. It serves as a reminder of what could have been and a symbol of the perceived injustices that can occur in sports. As the years pass, the debate surrounding the "No Goal" may fade, but the sting of that loss will likely endure for generations of Sabres fans.