Bob Lamb

#OTD October 10, 1970 – The Buffalo Sabres first home game. The first game was versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jim Watson scored the Sabres first goal (one of four in his career). Wally Boyer scored for the Penguins. Rookie sensation Gilbert Perrault scored the game winner 2-1. Gerry Meehan was recipient of the first penalty. A major brawl in the third period between Brian McDonald and Bryan Hextall was the highlight of the game. The new Buffalo Sabres franchise of the National Hockey League ended the 1970-71 season with a record of 24 wins and 39 losses and 15 ties for 63 points, finishing fifth in the NHL's East Division. The Sabres season total netted 217 goals and allowed 291. Gilbert Perreault scored 38 goals for Buffalo, and Phil Goyette contributed 46 assists. Joe Daley topped the squad with 12 wins, while Roger Crozier recorded 3.69 goals against average, leading regularly-used goaltenders. Punch Imlach coached the team. Joe Daley was the Sabers’ first choice in the 1970 Intra-League Draft. He was also one of the last NHL goalies to play without a mask, although he did later wear a mask for Winnipeg in the WHA. Even though Punch Imlach traded for Roger Crozier and he would be a great goalie – he suffered from pancreatitis that limited his availability