The Buffalo Sabres, the most
consistent National Hockey League team in the Toronto Region over the past 40
years, has enjoyed a storied history in a professional ‘small market’. Although
the team has never taken home the ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup, every new
year is a possibility with the product the Sabres put on the ice. Take a glance
at the history of the Buffalo Sabres, by the numbers.
1 Hart
Memorial Trophy winner. He did it twice. Goaltender Dominek Hasek won the Hart
as the NHL’s most valuable player in two consecutive seasons, 1996-97 and
1997-98.
2 Trips
to the Stanley Cup finals. Although they’ve yet to take home the hardware, the
Sabres have been to the dance twice in their history. In 1974-75, just
Buffalo’s fifth year in the NHL, the Sabres faced off against the Philadelphia
Flyers in the finals. The Broad Street Bullies won the series in six games
for their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
3 Hat
Tricks by Eddie
Shack in 1970-71. ‘The Entertainer’ was traded from the Los Angeles Kings
eleven games into Buffalo’s inaugural season. Shack scored 25 goals for the
Sabres that season, 36% of which came in just three games. Eddie’s stay in Buffalo
was short. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins midway through the
following season.
6
retired jersey numbers hang from the rafters at the First
Niagara Center. The Buffalo Sabres retired numbers include: 2 – Tim Horton;
7 – Rick Martin; 11 – Gilbert Perreault; 14 – Rene Robert; 16 – Pat Lafontaine;
18 – Danny Gare.
8
players that have donned a Buffalo Sabres jersey at some point during their NHL
career are now enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. These players include: Dick Duff, Grant
Fuhr, Clark Gillies, Tim Horton, Gilbert
Perreault, Dale Hawerchuk, Pat Lafontaine and Doug Gilmour.
53 wins
represents Buffalo’s best season in that particular category. The Sabres won 53
in 2006-07. It was the second time the team had reached the 50 win plateau
after winning 52 the year before.
76 goals
for Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93 remains a team single season record. The total
is the fifth highest in NHL history and Mogilny is one of just eight players to
reach 70 goals and beyond. Alex played for Buffalo from 1988-89 to 1994-95.
148 points
by Pat Lafontaine in 1992-93 is not only a Sabres team record but the highest
point total ever produced by an American born player.
512 goals
were scored by Gilbert Perreault during his career with the Sabres. This total
leaves Perreault at the top of Buffalo’s all-time list and the same can be said
for games played, assists and points. Gil is placed 37th all-time in
the NHL for career goals scored and is one of just 41 players to reach the 500
goal plateau.
1970 was
the year that saw the Buffalo Sabres play their first National Hockey League
game. The team visited Pittsburgh for the first game of the 1970-71 season and
walked away with a 2-1 victory over the Penguins. Buffalo entered the league
that season, along with the Vancouver Canucks.
