This Day in Sabres History

[PASabreFan]

January 4, 1976

The Aud was shaking before an exhibition game with the vaunted Soviet Wings. The Wings were shaking after getting destroyed, 12-6, by the Sabres. Rick Martin scored two goals and added three assists, Fred Stanfield potted one goal and helped on three others, and Danny Gare lit the lamp twice to key the Sabre attack. Despite six goals against, the Sabres effectively limited the Wings' offense by employing an early version of the neutral zone trap and hitting everything in red. The loss was the worst ever suffered by the Soviets in international competition to that date. Sabres' General Manager Punch Imlach called it the high point in the team's six years in the league.

 

January 4, 1984

Real "Buddy" Cloutier records his second hat trick in a week ? the only two of his short tenure in Buffalo, in fact ? in a 9-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets at the Aud. Cloutier got his first trick on Brian Ford. On this night, he gets his second on another Brian, Hayward.

 

January 4, 2003

Ales Kotalik scores with 41 seconds left in overtime to give the Sabres a 2-1 win in Ottawa.

[Taro T]

January 4, 1976

The Aud was shaking before an exhibition game with the vaunted Soviet Wings. The Wings were shaking after getting destroyed, 12-6, by the Sabres. Rick Martin scored two goals and added three assists, Fred Stanfield potted one goal and helped on three others, and Danny Gare lit the lamp twice to key the Sabre attack. Despite six goals against, the Sabres effectively limited the Wings' offense by employing an early version of the neutral zone trap and hitting everything in red. The loss was the worst ever suffered by the Soviets in international competition to that date. Sabres' General Manager Punch Imlach called it the high point in the team's six years in the league.

For those of us old enough to have seen that game (on TV unfortunately, not in person), that has to remain one of the most memorable Sabres games ever.

 

The game also reverbated internationally. I recall reading interviews of European players in the mid/late '80's and they would talk about getting opportunities to play in North American tournaments (while they were still playing for European teams) and they would have to get Canadiens, Oilers, and SABRES pennants and hats for their friends back home. The popularity of the Habs and Oilers was due to their championship runs, the Sabres was in large part due to that game back in January of '76.

[mphs mike]

For those of us old enough to have seen that game (on TV unfortunately, not in person), that has to remain one of the most memorable Sabres games ever.

 

The game also reverbated internationally. I recall reading interviews of European players in the mid/late '80's and they would talk about getting opportunities to play in North American tournaments (while they were still playing for European teams) and they would have to get Canadiens, Oilers, and SABRES pennants and hats for their friends back home. The popularity of the Habs and Oilers was due to their championship runs, the Sabres was in large part due to that game back in January of '76.

I agree - that was the highpoint for the life of the franchise to date. They were a mere pup of a club and 1/2 a season removed from the Finals. This 14 year old (at the time) just knew we'd be celebrating a Cup championship in time for the bicentennial!