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Hat Trick Rick: Martin’s 7 Tricks For Buffalo In 1975-76

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rick martin buffalo sabres 1976-77 o-pee-chee hockey card

Rick Martin was coming off consecutive 52 goal seasons for the Buffalo Sabres in 1973-74 and 1974-75. His goal production dropped to a still respectable 49 for the 1975-76 season. He definitely scored in bunches with half of those 49 coming in just seven games.

In 1975-76, Martin had seven hat tricks. Six of those were three goal games while in one he potted four markers. He is one of just nine players in NHL history to record seven or more three goal games in a single season. The record belongs to Wayne Gretzky. The Great One had ten tricks in both the 1981-82 and 1983-84 campaigns.

It was Rick’s fifth year in the National Hockey League after being a fifth overall pick by the Sabres at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. He was selected as a Second Team All-Star at left wing but had no consideration for the Hart Trophy.

Rick Martin’s 7 Hat Tricks

October 19, 1975

The Buffalo Sabres were red-hot out of the gates in 1975-76, and so was Martin. October 19, 1975, the team’s fifth game of the young season, Rick’s three goals on five shots helped the Sabres improve to 5-0 on the year.

In a 5-4 win over the Washington Capitals at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Martin came out flying. He scored his three goals within a 5:06 span in the first period, his 4th, 5th and 6th of the season. All three were scored on Washington goalie Ron Low and all three were assisted by Gilbert Perreault. Gil had four assists on the night.

October 22, 1975

In the following game, Rick crashed the party with three first period goals. They were the only three of the period giving him the Natural Hat Trick. The Sabres were hosting the New York Rangers at the Aud and were not gracious hosts. Buffalo came out on top 9-1.

His goal scoring was complete in the first period but Rick added an assist on a second period goal by Rene Robert for a four point night. John Davidson was left between the pipes for the Rangers for the duration of the rout.

December 18, 1975

Buffalo took it to the visiting Minnesota North Stars 5-2. Martin didn’t waste time, scoring just eleven seconds into the game. He then got his second at the 00:49 second mark for two goals in less than a minute. Both were scored on Pete LoPresti and both were assisted by Peter McNab.

LoPresti made an early exit at 5:39 of the first when Don Luce scored to make it 3-0 on just three shots. Cesare Maniago played the rest of the game for the North Stars. Maniago allowed Rick’s third of the game. Martin also assisted on a first period goal by Jocelyn Guevremont for a four point night.

December 21, 1975

In one of the worst routs in NHL history, the Sabres took it to the visiting Washington Capitals 14-2 (more on that here: Buffalo Sabres 14 goal game. Martin had four goals and an assist for five points. Three of the goals were scored on Ron Low and the fourth was put past Bernie Wolfe. Fred Stanfield of the Sabres also had a hat trick. Danny Gare put up five points on a goal and four assists.

January 5, 1976

Buffalo invaded the unfriendly confines of the Montreal Forum and took out the Canadiens 4-2. Martin scored his 26th, 27th and 28th goals of the season while firing eight shots at Montreal goalie Ken Dryden. Peter McNab assisted on two of Rick’s three goals.

March 5, 1976

At home in the Aud, Buffalo doubled up on the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 6-3 with Rick scoring his 37th, 38th and 39th goals of the campaign. All three were assisted by Gil Perreault and Rene Robert. Martin added an assist for four points on the night while Robert totaled five and Perreault had four. Rick fired eight shots at Tony Esposito who was in the Chicago nets for the full game.

March 27, 1976

The Sabres traveled up the QEW to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens. Buffalo came out on top 4-2 with Rick scoring his 45th, 46th and 47th goals of the season. He assisted on a Gilbert Perreault goal for four points while Gil also had four with a goal and three assists. Martin had nine shots on Toronto goalie Wayne Thomas.

Rick Martin NHL Career Stats

Regular Season

SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM
1971-72Buffalo Sabres7344307436
1972-73Buffalo Sabres7537367379
1973-74Buffalo Sabres7852348638
1974-75Buffalo Sabres6852439572
1975-76Buffalo Sabres8049378667
1976-77Buffalo Sabres6636296558
1977-78Buffalo Sabres6528356316
1978-79Buffalo Sabres7332215335
1979-80Buffalo Sabres8045347954
1980-81Buffalo Sabres237142120
1980-81Los Angeles Kings11120
1981-82Los Angeles Kings31342
Totals685384317701477

Playoffs

SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM
1971-72Buffalo Sabres00000
1972-73Buffalo Sabres632512
1973-74Buffalo Sabres00000
1974-75Buffalo Sabres17781520
1975-76Buffalo Sabres9471112
1976-77Buffalo Sabres62139
1977-78Buffalo Sabres724613
1978-79Buffalo Sabres30330
1979-80Buffalo Sabres1464108
1980-81Buffalo Sabres00000
1980-81Los Angeles Kings10000
1981-82Los Angeles Kings00000
Totals6324295374

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