Danny Gare: The NHL's Rookie Sensation Who Made History in Just 18 Seconds!

On October 10, 1974, the Buffalo Sabres faced off against the Boston Bruins at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, marking the commencement of the 1974-75 season. DannyGare, selected in the second round, had already showcased his prowess with an impressive 68-goal season in the WHL playing for the Calgary Centennials, and now, he was poised to leave his mark in the NHL.

And leave his mark, he certainly did. Just 18 seconds into the game, Gare netted his inaugural NHL goal, receiving assists from Craig Ramsay and Don Luce against Boston's goaltender, Gilles Gilbert. As if that weren't enough, Gare also contributed an assist on Ramsay's goal during the second period, culminating in a two-point performance for the rookie.

This feat remains the second fastest goal scored at the start of an NHL career, with Gus Bodnar of the Toronto Maple Leafs holding the record for a 15-second goal during his debut on October 30, 1943, against the New York Rangers. Alex Mogilny came close to Gare's record, scoring at the 20-second mark during his first game with the Sabres in the 1989-90 season.

Gare's scoring prowess didn't diminish throughout the season. He concluded the campaign with 31 goals and 31 assists, totaling 62 points. Moreover, he added seven more goals during the playoffs, where the Sabres advanced to the final before falling to the Philadelphia Flyers. Gare's exceptional performance earned him third place in the Calder Trophy voting for NHL rookie of the year, trailing behind Eric Vail and Pierre Larouche.

Entering his second season, Gare defied any notions of a sophomore slump. In the 1975-76 season, he notched an impressive 50 goals, becoming only the second player in Sabres history to achieve this milestone. Rick Martin held the record with 52 goals in the 1973-74 season. Gare, Martin, Alex Mogilny, and Pat Lafontaine stand as the only four players in franchise history to surpass the 50-goal mark in a single season, with Gare and Martin accomplishing this feat twice.

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