Top Five Moments of the Buffalo Sabres’ Season So Far

Dec 20, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing

(22) celebrates his first career NHL goal with teammates during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at First Niagara Center. Colorado beats Buffalo 5 to 1. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

3. A Pair of First NHL Goals

The month of December was particularly a good one for two Buffalo Sabres players: Johan Larsson and Tim Schaller, who both scored their first NHL goals in back-to-back nights.

It began with Larsson on December 20 against the Colorado Avalanche.

The young forward was called up from the AHL’s Rochester Americans just mere hours prior to the game; in fact, he was called up so late that he missed warm-ups, but made it in time for puck drop. He was called up to replace an ill Matt Moulson and made it to the First Niagara Center with “about two minutes left in warm-ups,” according to his recollection of the night.

Despite the late call-up, Larsson has the game of his life, scoring his first NHL goal against Calvin Pickard.

The following day, the Buffalo Sabres traveled to Boston to face the Bruins, and Schaller notched his first NHL goal after being called up earlier that day due to the multitude of injuries and illnesses affecting the Sabres.

Perhaps the best part: he got the chance to score his first goal in front of his parents. Schaller is a native of Merrimack, New Hampshire, and his parents were able to make it to the game that night.

This marked the first time in Buffalo Sabres history that a pair of players notched their first NHL goals on consecutive nights since March 2nd and 3rd, 2007, when Michael Ryan and Nathan Paetsch accomplished the feat.

Next: A Four-Game Winning Streak