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The fiancée of Buffalo Sabers star Rasmus Dahlin received a warm welcome home in her first appearance of the season Wednesday night, months after undergoing a life-saving transplant after suffering heart failure while on vacation in France.
Carolina Matovac, 25, appeared on the jumbotron during Wednesday’s game against the Boston Bruins. Fans cheered as she waved, and Dahlin, who also appeared on split screen, cracked a smile at the crowd’s reaction.
Carolina Matovac and Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabers pose on the red carpet at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on February 1, 2024. (Nicole Osborne/NHLI via Getty Images)
“Welcome home Carolina Matovac, the fiancée of our captain Rasmus Dahlin,” said the stadium announcer. “She’s back with us, attending her first game of the season. Saberhood loves you, Carolina.”
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In an open letter to her fans in September, Dahlin shared that Matovac had been feeling unwell for several days during her trip, which led her to experience “major heart failure.”
“Fortunately, she received CPR on multiple occasions, and up to a couple of hours at a time to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life. Without having received CPR, which saved her life, the outcome would have been unimaginable. It is difficult to even think about the worst case scenario,” he wrote at the time.
Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabers prepares for a faceoff during an NHL game against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on October 9, 2025. (Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
Matovac remained on life support for weeks before receiving the transplant in France.
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In January, Matovac revealed she was pregnant when her heart failed, adding that her unborn child was the reason she initially went to the hospital.
“You will always have a special place in our hearts as our first baby, even though we never had the chance to meet. Our love for you is endless,” she wrote in an Instagram post on what was supposed to be her due date.
“Although you were not able to experience this world, you played a vital role in ensuring that I could continue to be a part of it.”
Buffalo Sabers defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) tracks the puck in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on April 1, 2025. (Marc DesRosiers/Image Images)
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Despite taking time to be with Matovac as he recovered in his native Sweden, Dahlin is second on the team with 65 points as the Sabers are on the verge of ending an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought.
