Jim Lorentz: A Pair Of 3 Assist Games For The Home Crowd In Buffalo For The Christmas Season

In 1976-77, Jim Lorentz was enjoying what would turn out to be his last really productive season in the National Hockey League. He played much of 1977-78 but contributed just nine goals and 24 points. In 1976-77, he put in good numbers with the Buffalo Sabres with 23 goals and 33 assists.

3 Assists vs. Rangers

Six of those 33 helpers came in a pair of home games in mid-December. On December 16, 1976, Buffalo hosted the New York Rangers at the Aud. All his points came in the second period and all were assists on Rick Martin goals. Rico's three goals came within a 10:02 span but was not a natural hat trick. After the second, Gilbert popped in Buffalo's sixth of the game in a 7-2 win.

Buffalo goalie Gerry Desjardins might have been caught sleeping the odd time during the game with the Rangers putting just 14 shots on net. Gerry allowed a pair of second period goals by Pat Hickey to make the game interesting. At the other end of the rink, Buffalo put 28 shots on Gilles Gratton over two periods before Doug Soetaert came on in relief and faced 12 more.

3 Assists vs. Red Wings

The Sabres left town for a match against the New York Islanders and returned home to face the Detroit Red Wings on December 19, 1976. Again, all Jim's points came in a single period, this time the third. Again, it was a connection with Rick Martin.

This game went into the third period with Buffalo up 3-1. Detroit would not score again in this match. In a span of 7:01, Martin scored two goals and Andre Savard had one. Lorentz assisted on all three and the trio finished the game with three points each. The victim in the opponents net on this night was Jim Rutherford, turning away 28 of 34 in a 6-1 loss.

About Jim Lorentz

Between 1968-69 and 1977-78, Jim Lorentz played 659 regular season and 54 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres. He recorded four career hat tricks, all with the Sabres.

Lorentz was a Stanley Cup champion with the Bruins in 1969-70, appearing in eleven of the team's 14 playoff games. He contributed a single goal in the post season run. Prior, with Boston's CHL affiliate in Oklahoma City, Jim was rookie of the year in 1967-68 and league MVP in 1968-69.

Glenn Resch Had A Standout 1974-75 Season (And Was Still A Rookie In 1975-76)

It was just the second game of their existence. The Kansas City Scouts started play in the National Hockey League in 1974-75, along with the Washington Capitals. In their first game, they lost 6-2 to Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens with Michel Plasse facing 46 shots. In game two at Nassau County Coliseum, it was the Scouts doing the bulk of the shooting. But, Glenn Resch got in the way.

Butch Deadmarsh got the visitors on the board, scoring on Resch at 8:06 of the first period, assisted by Dave Hudson and Chris Evans. However, by the end of the frame, the Islanders had a 3-1 lead. In the end, it was another 6-2 loss but the Scouts certainly had their chances with 36 shots on Chico. Making the saves to give his team a chance for the W certainly became Resch's trademark.

Glenn had three shutouts during the 1974-75 NHL season but never faced more than 21 shots in any of those games. He finished the year with a .916 save percentage during the regular season but it was in the playoffs when he really came through.

In that 1974-75 post season, Resch played 12 games for the New York Islanders, posting a 2.17 goals against average, one shutout and an amazing .931 save percentage. Incredible numbers for a goalie on a team that was bounced in the semi-final. He led all goalies in save percentage in those playoffs.

In the team's quarter-final series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Glenn was in net for all four wins while Billy Smith took all three losses. Game seven was a 30 save 1-0 shutout with Ed Westfall scoring the game winning goal late in the third period.

Despite playing 25 regular season and 12 playoff games in 1974-75, his second year seeing NHL action, Resch was still considered a rookie in 1975-76. That year, he posted a 2.08 GAA with a league leading .928 save percentage along with seven shutouts. Glenn was runner-up to teammate Bryan Trottier for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.

Gilles Meloche and his Under-Appreciated Rookie 1971-72 NHL Season

Goaltender Gilles Meloche was a fifth round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. However, Meloche played just two games with the Hawks in 1970-71 before ending up with the California Golden Seals. With the Seals, Gilles was thrust into the number one role in 1971-72 and didn't disappoint.

In his true rookie season, Meloche played 56 games for California, posting a 3.33 goals against average with four shutouts. These were great numbers for a goalie on a team that didn't qualify for the post season. In his first game with the club, he shut down the high-powered Boston Bruins, earning his first career shutout while turning away 34 shots at the Boston Garden.

Typical of the Golden Seals, Meloche stopped 52 of 54 shots in a March 11, 1972 game at Maple Leaf Gardens but still lost the to Toronto 2-1. It was Darryl Sittler sinking the Seals with a power play goal at 12:29 of the second period.

Despite this, Gilles received just a single vote for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1971-72. Ahead of him in voting was winner Ken Dryden along with Rick Martin and Marcel Dionne, certainly a deserving trio.

The following year, 1972-73, Meloche led the NHL in games and minutes played, shots, saves and goals against. Gilles was getting better as a goalie but the Golden Seals were simply getting worse as a franchise. In three games, he faced over 50 shots. In 14, opponents fired more than 40 at him. 

Gilles Meloche played 788 regular season and 45 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1970-71 and 1987-88 with the Blackhawks, Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins.