Gilbert Perreault’s 7-Point Explosion Still Stands as a Buffalo Sabres Record

On February 1, 1976, Gilbert Perreault delivered one of the most electrifying performances in Buffalo Sabres history, one that still hasn’t been matched. In a high-scoring showdown against the California Golden Seals, Perreault piled up an incredible seven points, setting a franchise record that remains untouched decades later.

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Highlights

• Gilbert Perreault records 7 points in one game (Sabres franchise record)

• Performance came in a 9-5 win over the California Golden Seals

• Danny Gare scores a hat trick (10 shots on goal)

• Rene Robert contributes 5 points in the same game

• Perreault records 2 goals and 5 assists

• All Sabres goals scored against Gary Simmons

• Game featured 14 total goals between both teams

• Part of Perreault’s 113-point career season in 1975-76

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The game, played at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, ended in a wild 9-5 Sabres victory. While teammates Danny Gare (hat trick) and Rene Robert (five points) had standout nights of their own, they were ultimately overshadowed by Perreault’s dominant performance.

Buffalo got on the board early with Robert scoring the lone goal of the first period, assisted by Perreault and Jocelyn Guevremont. The second period saw the offense erupt, with the Sabres netting four goals. Perreault contributed with assists on goals by Gare and Jacques Richard, helping Buffalo seize control of the game.

The third period belonged entirely to Perreault. He assisted on two more Gare goals, including one with just four seconds left, while also scoring twice himself, bringing his season totals to 28 and 29 goals. All nine Sabres goals came against goaltender Gary Simmons, who faced relentless pressure throughout the night.

Perreault’s seven-point outing stands as the pinnacle of a remarkable career that included multiple six-point games. During the 1975-76 season, he posted a career-best 44 goals and 113 points. Surprisingly, despite such dominance, he finished tied for just seventh in Hart Trophy voting alongside Pete Mahovlich of the Montreal Canadiens.

"Then Perreault Said to Rico…": The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told

A collection of the greatest Buffalo Sabres tales — from unforgettable moments to iconic personalities in franchise history.

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Perreault’s Opening Night Hat Trick Launches Sabres’ 1974-75 Season

The 1974-75 NHL season began with a bang at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium as the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Boston Bruins. It was a matchup between two powerhouse clubs, but the night quickly turned into a showcase for Buffalo’s star center, Gilbert Perreault.

While rookie Danny Gare grabbed headlines by scoring just 18 seconds into his first NHL game, Perreault made sure his own performance wouldn’t be overlooked, racking up three goals and two assists in a vintage display of speed and skill.

Perreault had been limited to just 55 games the previous season and was eager to make an impact. After Boston took a 2–1 lead, he tied the game midway through the first period with a power-play goal, and fittingly, it came while Bobby Orr sat in the penalty box. Assists went to Jim Lorentz and Jerry Korab.

The second period was all Buffalo, as the Sabres exploded for four goals to take a commanding 6-2 lead. Perreault set up two of them, both scored by linemate Rick Martin of the famed French Connection line.

Just over two minutes into the third, Perreault scored again to make it 7-2, with Martin and René Robert collecting assists. He completed his hat trick late in the period with an unassisted power-play goal, sealing a 9-5 victory in front of a roaring home crowd.

The Sabres fired 40 shots at Bruins goalie Gilles Gilbert, while Buffalo’s own Gary Bromley made 13 saves on 18 shots. Despite some loose defense, it was the kind of offensive outburst that defined the high-flying Sabres of the 1970s. Buffalo went on to dominate the season series, winning five of seven meetings with Boston.

About Gilbert Perreault 

Gilbert Perreault played 1,191 regular season and 90 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1986-87, all with the Buffalo Sabres. Perreault was the first overall selection at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Gilbert Perreault

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. In what year did Gilbert Perreault become the first-ever draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres?
   1968
   1970
   1972
   1974
2. Perreault centered one of the most famous lines in NHL history. What was it called?
   The Sabre Sword Line
   The French Connection
   The Golden Trio
   The Buffalo Blitz
3. What major NHL milestone did Gilbert Perreault achieve during the 1981-82 season?
   500th goal
   1,000th career point
   1,500th game played
   First playoff hat trick
4. Perreault represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. How many goals did he score in that historic tournament?
   0
   1
   3
   5
5. How many total regular-season points did Gilbert Perreault record in his NHL career?
   1,078
   1,326
   1,210
   1,502

Danny Gare Haunts the Sabres in Wild 1984 Finish

On October 26, 1984, in just the eighth game of the 1984-85 NHL season, fans at Joe Louis Arena witnessed a bizarre and unforgettable performance by Detroit Red Wings captain Danny Gare. Facing off against his former team, the Buffalo Sabres, Gare seemed quiet with just one assist through 59 minutes of play. But the final 49 seconds flipped the script.

With the Red Wings clinging to a 4-3 lead and the Sabres’ goalie Tom Barrasso pulled for an extra attacker, Bob Manno scored into the empty net. Assisting on the goal? Dwight Foster and Danny Gare. That bumped Gare’s total to two points.

Just five seconds later, Barrasso still off the ice, Gare found the back of the net for his first goal of the night, his second of the season. Assists again went to Foster and the ever-intense Dave “Tiger” Williams.

Still without a goalie, Buffalo watched Gare strike once more. With just 15 seconds remaining, Tiger Williams set him up again for his second of the night and third point in under a minute. Paired with his first-period assist on Foster’s goal, Gare closed out the night with a four-point game, three of them scored in the final 49 seconds.

And that wasn’t all. Tiger Williams added some trademark grit to his stat line with two assists and a first-period fight against Buffalo’s Mike Foligno. Meanwhile, Dwight Foster and second-year phenom Steve Yzerman each notched a goal and two assists. John Ogrodnick chipped in with two goals and an assist.

About Danny Gare

Between 1974-75 and 1986-87, Danny Gare played 827 regular season and 64 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres selected him in the second round, 29th overall, at the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft after an outstanding junior career with the Calgary Centennials. In his final year with Calgary, Gare scored 68 goals and totaled 127 points.

With Buffalo, Danny was a 50 goal scorer twice. His career best came in 1979-80 when his 56 goals tied him for the league lead with Blaine Stoughton of the Hartford Whalers and Charlie Simmer of the Losn Angeles Kings. 

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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1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring Log Jam

Who led the NHL in goals in 1979-80? Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings, Danny Gare of the Buffalo Sabres and Blaine Stoughton of the Hartford Whalers tied for the league lead with 56 goals each.

It remains a remarkable piece of NHL history. Three players finished a season tied for the goal-scoring lead, with Simmer reaching 56 goals despite playing just 64 games.

The 1979-80 season was also the NHL's first following the collapse of the World Hockey Association. Four former WHA franchises: the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques, joined the NHL for the season.

1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring Leaders

Player	Team	Goals	Games
Charlie Simmer	Los Angeles Kings	56	64
Danny Gare	Buffalo Sabres	56	76
Blaine Stoughton	Hartford Whalers	56	80

Charlie Simmer – Los Angeles Kings

If today's Rocket Richard Trophy rules were applied to the 1979-80 season, Charlie Simmer would have shared the award with Gare and Stoughton. The trophy did not yet exist; it was first awarded following the 1998-99 NHL season.

What makes Simmer's performance particularly impressive is that he scored his 56 goals in only 64 games. That works out to 0.875 goals per game.

Simmer played on the famous Triple Crown Line with Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor. He scored another 56 goals the following season, giving him consecutive 50-goal campaigns.

Those were the only two 50-goal seasons of Simmer's injury-plagued NHL career. Originally drafted by the California Golden Seals, Simmer played for the Seals, Cleveland Barons, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. He finished his NHL career with 342 goals in 712 regular-season games.

Danny Gare – Buffalo Sabres

Danny Gare scored his 56 goals in 76 games for the Buffalo Sabres. It was the second 50-goal season of his NHL career after he scored exactly 50 for Buffalo in 1975-76.

A second-round pick of the Sabres in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, Gare developed into one of Buffalo's most dangerous goal scorers. He spent the majority of his career with the Sabres before also playing for the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.

Gare finished his 13-year NHL career with 354 goals in 827 regular-season games.

Blaine Stoughton – Hartford Whalers

Blaine Stoughton completed the full 80-game schedule for the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80 and scored 56 goals. It was Hartford's first season in the NHL after the franchise moved over from the WHA.

The season marked Stoughton's first NHL 50-goal campaign. He reached the milestone again in 1981-82 when he scored 52 goals for the Whalers.

Originally selected seventh overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, Stoughton played in both the NHL and WHA during his professional career.

His NHL teams included the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers. In the WHA, Stoughton played for the Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers. He also scored 52 goals for Cincinnati in 1976-77.

Why Was the 1979-80 Goal-Scoring Race Unusual?

The three-way tie between Simmer, Gare and Stoughton makes the 1979-80 scoring race one of the more unusual in NHL history. All three finished with exactly 56 goals despite playing significantly different numbers of games.

Simmer needed just 64 games to reach 56. Gare played 76 games, while Stoughton appeared in all 80. Simmer therefore had easily the highest goals-per-game rate of the three.

The season also came during an important transition in professional hockey. Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec and Hartford had entered the NHL following the end of the WHA, increasing the league to 21 teams.

1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring FAQ

Who scored the most goals in the NHL in 1979-80?

Charlie Simmer, Danny Gare and Blaine Stoughton tied for the NHL lead with 56 goals each.

How many games did Charlie Simmer play in 1979-80?

Simmer played 64 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Kings and scored 56 goals.

Who scored 56 goals for the Buffalo Sabres in 1979-80?

Danny Gare scored 56 goals in 76 games for Buffalo.

How many goals did Blaine Stoughton score for Hartford in 1979-80?

Stoughton scored 56 goals while playing all 80 games for the Hartford Whalers.

Did the Rocket Richard Trophy exist in 1979-80?

No. The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy was introduced for the 1998-99 NHL season. It is awarded annually to the NHL's leading regular-season goal scorer.

1975-76 NHL Goal Scoring Leaders - Leach Replaces Esposito

1975-76 was an end of an era in the National Hockey League. Phil Esposito had dominated the goal scoring landscape since 1969-70, leading the NHL for six consecutive seasons. Esposito scored 50 or more goals for five consecutive seasons and set the mark for most goals in a single season with 76 in 1970-71. In 1975-76, the Boston Bruins traded him mid-season to the New York Rangers and he totalled just 35 goals, not good enough to place in the top ten.

Reggie Leach – Philadelphia Flyers

Leading the NHL in 1975-76 with 61 goals was Reggie Leach of the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a career year for Leach with his next highest goal total coming in 1979-80 with 50. Reggie carried on into the 1975-76 playoffs with 19 goals in 16 games as the Flyers reached the finals before losing out to the Montreal Canadiens. Leach was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in the losing cause. To date, he is one of just five players to be awarded the Conn Smythe when not winning the Stanley Cup.

Guy Lafleur – Montreal Canadiens

Guy Lafleur of the Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens came second with 56 goals. It was Guy’s second of six consecutive seasons with 50 or more goals and his first of three consecutive Art Ross Trophies. The 56 goals was a far cry from the 130 he scored in 62 games for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL in 1970-71.

Despite finishing third in the Norris Division and making an early opening round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins provided the National Hockey League with two 50 goal scorers. Pierre Larouche finished third with 53 and Jean Pronovost ended 1975-76 with one less than his teammate.

Pierre Larouche – Pittsburgh Penguins

Pierre Larouche was another phenom in the QMJHL. With the Sorel Black Hawks in 1973-74, he scored 94 goals and totalled 251 points in 67 regular season games. 1975-76 was just his second season in the NHL. He would score 50 goals in a season one more time in his NHL career, exactly 50 as a member of the 1979-80 Montreal Canadiens.

Jean Pronovost – Pittsburgh Penguins

Jean Pronovost had a career year with his 52 goals and 104 points. Pronovost played two games shy of 1,000 in an NHL career that spanned from 1968-69 to 1981-82. He spent the bulk of his time with Pittsburgh but also played for the Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals.

Bill Barber – Philadelphia Flyers

Two players tied for fifth spot in 1975-76 with 50 goals each. Bill Barber of the Philadelphia Flyers and Danny Gare each had 50. Barber gets the tie breaker nod with 112 points to Gare’s 73.

Bill Barber is one of just two of these six players to have a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Barber was inducted in 1990, two years after Guy Lafleur. 1975-76 was the only time during his twelve year NHL career, all with the Flyers, that Barber reached the 50 goal plateau.

Danny Gare would reach the 50 goal plateau one more time in his career. In 1979-80, he scored 56 for the Buffalo Sabres, tying Blaine Stoughton of the Hartford Whalers and Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings for the NHL lead. Gare played in the NHL from 1974-75 to 1986-87 with the Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.