Sabres Factoid of the Day - Read and/or Submit Your Own!

[ScottyMCSS]

8-4-10

The Floodgates Open for the Sabres in the '70's

In '75-'76, Gilbert Perreault had 113 points, 44 of these were goals. Sounds good, eh?

In the same season:

Danny Gare had 50 goals.
Rick Martin had 49 goals.
Rene Robert had 35 goals.

In all, the Blue and Gold racked up 339 goals that year, which is amazing in itself, until you consider the team record 354 goals that they scored in '74-'75.

The scoring is even more impressive:

Rick Martin had 52 goals.
Rene Robert had 40 goals.
Gilbert Perreault had 39 goals.
Don Luce had 33 goals.
Danny Gare had 31 goals.
Rick Dudley had 31 goals.

Jim Lorentz had 25 goals. And then the "curse" happened.

It just wan't meant to be... while the Sabres failed against the hated Flyers, at least they did kill at least one flying rodent.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-5-10

Rookie Roid Rage

It is recorded that the Buffalo Sabres were the 1st team in NHL history to report that one of its players had used performance enhancing drugs.

From NBC Sports:

Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters briefly and legally used the steroidlike supplement androstenedione two years ago to help him make the team.

Peters did not break any laws or NHL rules at the time and has stopped using the performance enhancer since the Food and Drug Administration banned its sale in April 2004, his agent, Steve Bartlett, said Thursday.

Peters, believed to be the first NHL player to admit using a performance-enhancing supplement, said he used andro from May to August 2003, The Buffalo News reported.

“No one said you can’t, so why not?” Peters told the newspaper. “We didn’t do anything illegal. It was a supplement. We weren’t hiding anything. I had nothing to hide. My girlfriend at the time knew. My parents knew.”

Peters told The News he and brother Geoff Peters, a career minor leaguer, bought andro over the counter at a nutritional supplement store in Rochester.

Peters said he used andro to prepare for training camp and help overcome shoulder and ankle injuries that forced him to miss 23 games the previous season with the Sabres’ minor league affiliate in the AHL.

Peters went from 224 pounds to 247. He made the team and appeared in 42 games as a rookie in the 2003-04 season. The left wing finished with two goals, no assists and a team-leading 151 penalty minutes.

It's hard to say if that extra 23 pounds helped Peters at all. Sure didn't improve his "move like a butterfly."

[ScottyMCSS]

8-5-10

Kennedy's Head: Not the First

The Sabres buying out of Tim Kennedy's abritration contract is the 1st incident of its kind in NHL history, and that pretty much sucks for Tim and his fans. It's a big kick in the gut.

But he wasn't the 1st player to get the mean guillotine from the Sabres.

Ray Sheppard was "traded" to the hated New York Rangers in his third year as a pro, after suffering an ankle injury in the '89-'90 season.

The Sabres recieved one dollar in return.

This was before waivers were introduced to the NHL.

Anyway, Tim should keep his chin up. Ray became a free agent after that 1990-91 season, and he opted to sign on with the Detroit Red Wings. For parts of 5 seasons Ray starred along side the likes of Steve Yzerman. He never scored less than 30 goals, even in the lockout shortened season of 1994-95 when he played in just 43 games of the 48 game schedule. The previous year, 1993-94, Ray had his best professional season, scoring 52 goals and 93 points.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-6-10

Sabre Killers, Part II

Again, it's no surprise that Daniel Alfredsson is on this list of "Most Points in One Game by an Opposing Player." From the Sabres Media Guide:

John Bucyk (12-10-70 at Boston, 2 goals, 4 assists)
Garry Unger (3-13-71 at St. Louis, 3 goals, 3 assists)
Bernie Nicholls (11-22-87 vs.
Los Angeles, 3 goals, 3 assists)
Hakan Loob (3-12-88 at Calgary, 3 goals, 3 assists)
Kevin Dineen (4-15-93 vs. Philadelphia, 3 goals, 3 assists)
Daniel Alfredsson (11-2-05 vs. Ottawa, 4 goals, 2 assists)

It's also interesting to see current Portland Pirates coach Kevin Dineen up there. While passed over for a head coaching position this season by various clubs, his style of grit and intensity, combined with his closeness to the new young core coming up the ranks, should make him a strong candidate to replace Lindy Ruff if and when Ruff departs.

A Sabre Killer just might become a Sabre Savior.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-6-10

Sneaky Pete

Although Pierre Turgeon didn't have the reputation as a great playoff producer from his WNY followers, he had a very respectable 97 points in 109 post season contests.

Turgeon erupted for his best season in 1992-93 when he recorded a career-best 58 goals and 132 points in his first full season on Long Island. Turgeon was enjoying his first taste of post season success and leading the Islanders to the Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, Turgeon was the recipient of one of the ugliest muggings in hockey history. As he celebrated a goal in a playoff clinching win against the Washington Capitals, Dale Hunter slowly skated up from behind and destroyed him against the boards.

Turgeon injured his shoulder and Hunter received a 21-game suspension. The Islanders, and particularly Turgeon, were never the same.

From the NY Daily News:

"Everything changed by one mean-spirited little prick. When Pierre Turgeon got up, he left some piece of himself on the Nassau pond. From the minute he returned, he was hesitant; he was a perimeter guy; he was a guy who was not activating the energy level of his team the way he had been. He didn't have that drive to the front of the net."

[ScottyMCSS]

8-7-10

Anyone remember Mal Davis?

One of Mal's goals was the game winner in the greatest comeback win in Sabres history.

On February 25, 1983, the Sabres trailed the Boston Bruins 6-1 early in the second period. Buffalo rallied to score four straight goals, bringing the score to 6-5 by the end of the second. The Sabres tied the game on a goal by Dave Andreychuk in the third period, and Davis scored with just minutes remaining to send the Buffalo fans home jubilant and loud as they streamed out of the Aud down those old ramps.

Those old ramps were a lot of fun after a win, and long walk after a loss.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-9-10

Iron Man

Craig "Rammer" Ramsay enjoyed ten straight seasons with perfect attendance for the Buffalo Sabres. In all, he played in 776 straight games, until broken foot knocked him on his seat in 1983.

From "Legends of Hockey:"

Shortly after his arrival in Sabres-land, he was united with his close buddy and playing companion, Don Luce. Together the two formed a defensive juggernaut that served as a dragnet aimed at neutralizing the stars of the NHL. After a few years of experimenting with the third member of their line, Danny Gare settled in to form a trio that not only slowed the opposition to a crawl but generated high levels of offense at the same time. In 1979-80, Gare potted 56 goals--on a defensive line! Luce and Ramsay were no slouches either, netting their annual booty of 20-plus goals.

It was goals like this that make that line so special.

As a testament to his career, Ramsay was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward in 1985 - his last year in the league.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-9-10

Scotty Bowman - The Player

Ex-Sabres coach Scotty Bowman's 9 (plus) Stanley Cup coaching wins list him ahead of the legendary Toe Blake for the most ever.

From Wiki:

William Scott "Scotty" Bowman (born September 18, 1933) is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He is currently the Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations for the Chicago Blackhawks.

As head coach, Bowman has won a record nine Stanley Cups with the Canadiens (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979), Penguins (1992) and Red Wings (1997, 1998, and 2002). He has also won three Stanley Cups as a member of an organization's front office.

More rings than fingers.

His career into coaching was accelerated, but for the wrong reason: a head injury ended Bowman's playing career while he was still a junior.

In '52-'53, he recorded 5 goals for 13 points with 11 PIM's for the Montreal Jr. Royals of the QMJPL.

Bowman played for the QPJHL's Montreal Jr. Canadians in the '51-'52 and '53-'54 seasons (but, as yet, statistics are unavailable). It was over too quickly for Bowman, but he emerged form his injury as arguably the best NHL coach of all time.

Here's William "Scotty" Bowman being interviewed on the Dennis Miller Show. Enjoy.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-10-10

Pat LaFonatine, "Mr. New York"

Today's factoid comes by request.

Pat Lafontaine likely had the most dominant career in the state of NY. From Wiki:

LaFontaine is one of four players in NHL history to skate for all three teams based in the state of New York. The others were Mike Donnelly, former teammate Jason Dawe and Martin Biron, who will accomplish the feat with the Rangers in the 2010-11 NHL season. LaFontaine played his entire career in the state of New York while Donnelly also played for the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars and Dawe also played for the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.

LaFontaine once joked about it, saying "I got to play for three great organizations in my career and never once had to buy new license plates."

Patty's top 10 goals, per ESPN. Enjoy.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-11-10

Donald Audette

Audette is remembered by most Sabres fans for his scoring prowess and willingness to go to the danger zones around the net to put the puck into it.

What a lot of folks forget is that Donald intially went undrafted in the 1988 entry draft. The Sabres finally picked him in the 1989 draft - in the ninth round. It turned out to be a steal of a pick.

Interestingly, Audette was the first in team history to leave the Sabres via a trade, and then rejoin the club by way of a trade.

Another forgotten fact is that Audette once served as captain of the Blue and Gold. On April 18, 1998, when Sabres Captain Michael Peca was sidelined with a knee injury, Audette was named interim Captain for Buffalo's game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Here's one of Audette's many "sniper" goals. In this clip, he lights the red lamp against, well, Andre "Red Light" Racicot. (Sadly, the play by play comes through John Gurtler, but Mike Robataille does his usual fantastic job on wrapping up the play.)

[ScottyMCSS]

8-13-10

Rogier Crozier and "Friday the 13th"

Today we enjoy yet another Friday the 13th. Watch out for sickeningly bad vampire novels/movies/tv shows everybody. They are everywhere.

Anyway, here's a quirky fact: the iconic hockey mask donned by "Jason" in the "Friday the 13th" movie series was modeled purportedly after what Rogier Crozier in the 1970's.

From ESPN:

"Success has a thousand fathers," Zerner (a cast member) said. "But the story I've heard is that Marty Sadoff, who was the 3-D supervisor and a big Buffalo Sabres fan, was the guy who said 'the hockey mask.'"

Crozier's mask and Jason's mask are indeed, eerily similar.

Best to avoid any shacks owned by Crozier near Camp Crystal Lake today. And check out this video. It's plain from the very beginning that Crozier's, faceless, vacant mask is way creepier than Ken Dryden's colorful bull's-eye pattern.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-13-10

Crozier's Untouchable Legacy

Roger Crozier was the Sabres' 1st man between the pipes, and the Blue and Gold were lucky to have him.

Most have long forgotten, or never have heard, that Crozier made his NHL debut during the '63-'64 season, as a backup to the legendary Red Wings goaltender Terry Sawchuk.

The Red Wings organization was so impressed with Crozier's play that during the off-season, Sawchuk was traded and Crozier was given the starting nod.

Crozier was the starting goaltender for the Sabres' first ever NHL game on October 10, 1970 in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Crozier turned aside 35 of Pittsburgh's 36 shots as the Sabres earned their first NHL win by a score of 2-1. It turned out to be an easy night for him, as he would often face between 40 and 50 shots against a game during the Sabres's first two years in the NHL.


From "Legends of Hockey:"

League Awards
1964-65: Calder Trophy (Outstanding Rookie)
1964-65: NHL First Team All-Star
1965-66: Conn Smythe Trophy (Stanley Cup Playoff Most Valuable Player)

Team Awards
1971-72: Wayne Larkin Memorial Trophy (Sabres Most Valuable Player)
1971-72: Star of Stars Trophy (Most three stars selections during season)

Team Firsts
First shift on the ice for the Buffalo Sabres: (along with Hap Myers, Billy Inglis, Ron Anderson, Paul Terbenche and Tracy Pratt) October 10, 1970 at Pittsburgh Penguins
First goaltender win in team history: October 10, 1970, 2-1 at Pittsburgh Penguins
First goaltender loss in team history: October 15, 1970, 3-0 vs. Montreal Canadiens
First shutout in team history: December 6, 1970, 1-0 vs. Minnesota North Stars
First player inducted into Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame: February 10, 1980

[ScottyMCSS]

8-15-10

James Patrick's "Clang Heard 'Round the World"

Close. Oh, so close.

Everyone remembers Brett Hull's "no goal" that ended the 1999 Stanley Cup series between Buffalo and Dallas.

The Sabres came so very close to winning the game shortly before Hull's skate ended everything (and changed the rules forever).

It was in the second OT, when Patrick rang a shot off the crossbar over a sprawling Ed Belfour. "No Goal" or not, it was one wild and crazy night.

Not sure who is doing the commentary on this wrap-up, but you can view Patrick's almost goal here, at the 2 minute mark.

Patrick has continued to serve with the Sabres since his retirement as assistant coach, mainly helping to groom defensive rookies out of the AHL. His success with Brian Campbell is one his greatest achievements.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-16-10

The First Sabre

While Roiger Crozier put up some amazing feats for the first Sabres' teams, he wasn't the first Sabre selected by Punch Imlach in the 1970 expansion draft.

Rather, Imlach selected netminder Joe "The Holy Goalie" Daley.

Daley was one of the last professional goaltenders, and the only one in Buffalo Sabres history, to play without wearing a protective mask.

Daley carried his share of the load in '70-'71, his only season in Buffalo. On December 10, 1970, Daley and his face stood up 72 shots in an 8-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Here is a clip of Daley taking shots on December 19, 1970, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. No mask. Insane. His hair finally moves around the 7:20 mark, while he sprawls out - face first - trying to stop a couple shots.

[ScottyMCSS]

8-17-10

The Expansion Cup

The fog. The bat. Many fans look back on the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals and remember that one game, the game that perhaps cursed the Sabres forever.

But heck, it was the 1st ever NHL final featuring two expansion teams.

Too bad there isn't a trophy for that.

That being said, here's a video link to that extraordinary game.