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The fiancée of Buffalo Sabers star Rasmus Dahlin received a warm welcome home during 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, was shown on the jumbotron during Wednesday’s game against the Boston Bruins. Fans cheered as she waved to them, and Dahlin, who was also shown on screen in a split, smiled 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, February 1, 2024. (Nicole Osborne/NHLI via Getty Images)
“Welcome home to Carolina Matovac, the fiancée of our captain Rasmus Dahlin,” said the arena announcer. “She’s back with us, attending her first game of the season. The Sabrehood loves you, Carolina.”
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In an open letter to fans in September, Dahlin said that Matovac felt ill for several days during their trip, causing her to suffer “major heart failure.”
“Fortunately, she received CPR repeatedly, and for up to a few hours at a time, to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life. Without it, the outcome would have been unimaginable. It is difficult to even imagine 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 stopped, adding that her unborn child was the reason she initially went to the hospital.
“You will always hold 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 about what was supposed to be her due date.
“Even though you didn’t get 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) chases the puck in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 1, 2025. (Marc DesRosiers/Imagn Images)
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Despite spending time with Matovac while recovering in their native Sweden, Dahlin is second on the team with 65 points as the Sabers are on the verge of ending a record 14-season NHL playoff drought.
