32 times in National Hockey League history, a team has scored 12 or more goals in a single regular season games. When you consider that there are now over 1,300 games played in the NHL each season, a high-scoring affair is apparently quite an anomoly.
When one franchise accomplished the feat four times in 17 years, that team would seem to have a knack for putting the puck in the net. The Buffalo Sabres did just that. In fact, the Sabres scored 14 goals in two different games, something that has only been done eight times in the history of the National Hockey League.
We’re going to take a deeper look at the finer details of those four games.
December 21, 1975
Buffalo Sabres 14, Washington Capitals 2
At home, playing within the walls of the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the Sabres had a relatively slow start against a still struggling Washington Capitals team. The Caps had a brutal inaugural season in 1974-75. In 1975-76, things weren’t much better. They went into this game with Buffalo sporting just three wins and four ties, along with 27 losses. Buffalo, on the other hand, was 19-9-4.
However, after the first period, it was just a 2-0 advantage for the home team. After the second, it wasn’t quite in blowout territory at 5-2. But, in the third, the Sabres had eight unanswered goals to balloon the score to 14-2.
Rick Martin led the way with four goals and an assist for five points on the night. Danny Gare turned those numbers around a bit with a goal and four assists. Fred Stanfield had the other hat trick, scoring three and assisting on one. Gilbert Perreault also had a four point night with two goals and two helpers. Don Luce equaled Perreault’s numbers. Jacques Richard, Jim Schoenfeld and Brian Spencer head had three assists.
In goal, Gerry Desjardins needed help staying awake in the Buffalo net. He faced 16 shots, allowing two goals. At the other end, it was much busier. Ron Low allowed ten goals on 36 shots before being replaced by Bernie Wolfe 48 minutes into the game. Wolfe allowed four goals on 14 shots in just over half a period.
Despite what should have been a very frustrating game for the Capitals, emotions didn’t run high. Only five minor penalties were handed out during the game and only one of those minors went to Washington.
March 19, 1981
Buffalo Sabres 14, Toronto Maple Leafs 4
Again at home, playing in front of the local crowd at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the Sabres blowout started slow. There was just one goal scored in the first period, an unassisted marker by Buffalo’s John Van Boxmeer.
In the second, it got crazy. There were 12 total goals scored in period number 2, nine by Buffalo and three by the Maple Leafs. Michel Larocque remained in the Toronto net for the first two periods, allowing ten goals on 27 shots. Jiri Crha played the third, letting in four goals on 22 shots. Don Edwards played the full game for Buffalo, allowing four goals on 32 shots.
The Sabres were led offensively by Andre Savard. A career night for Savard, netting three and assisting on three for six points. Gilbert Perreault also tallied the hat trick and added an assist for four points.
Toronto’s offense was mostly provided by Darryl Sittler, scoring two goals. Wilf Paiement and Ian Turnbull each added three assists.
February 25, 1978
Buffalo Sabres 13, Cleveland Barons 3
On the road, playing at the Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio, Buffalo pounded the Barons with 50 shots on net. Danny Gare led the way offensively with three goals and two assists for five points. Defenseman Jerry Korab also totaled five points on two goals and three assists. The ever-present Gilbert Perreault had four assists.
It was a veteran duo tending the Cleveland goal. Gilles Meloche started the game and allowed eight goals on 24 shots over two periods. Gary Edwards came in for the third and was bombarded with 26 shots. He allowed five to go in.
Tending goal for the Sabres was Bob Sauve. Bob faced 26 shots and turned away 23.
October 30, 1992
Buffalo Sabres 12, Ottawa Senators 3
It was the first season in the NHL for the Senators and they would win just ten of 84 games. The Sabres were destined to end 1992-93 just barely above .500. Going into the game, Ottawa was 1-8 while Buffalo was 6-3-1. It was to be a mismatched game at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium that night.
Pat Lafontaine led the Sabres with two goals and three assists for five points. Dale Hawerchuk and Viktor Gordiouk each had a goal and three assists for four points. Dominik Hasek was in net for Buffalo. The Dominator was in his first season with the team after coming over from the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans had yet to see what would make this goalie a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hasek faced just 20 shots, letting in three goals.
In the Ottawa nets, Steve Weeks was replaced in the third period with just over ten minutes left. He allowed eleven goals on 40 shots. Peter Sidorkiewicz came in for an uneventful last half of the third, allowing a single goal on six shots.
Gilbert Perreault was involved in 3 of those games – Wow
That 1992-93 season put up some unbelievable offensive numbers
Ya – 1992-93 was pretty much the year the insane offensive numbers jumped the shark! It was all downhill from there. Mogilny, Lemieux and Selanne put up big numbers – then there was Oates, Lafontaine and Gilmour with 95+ assists…
Comments are closed.