Top 5 greatest Buffalo Sabres moments of all-time (1970-2022)
The Buffalo Sabres have seen some unforgettable moments in their 50-plus year history. So which ones landed in the top five? Keep reading to find out.
If you followed the Buffalo Sabres since their inception or if you are a dedicated Sabres historian, you probably heard about all their greatest moments. But five of them have stood out more than others.
Fans will always remember March 10th, 2022, when Alex Tuch stole the puck from Jack Eichel and sunk an empty-netter; an in-your-face exclamation point toward the Vegas Golden Knights, who traded the winger for Eichel earlier that season. But the following moments go far beyond what happened on the tenth, in which goaltender Craig Anderson also recorded his 300th win.
You could write a book on every great moment in team history before most likely writing a second one when you find out that you overlooked several more. That said, it wasn’t easy to pick out five of them. But in the end, we got there. And the #5 moment was actually one of the first in franchise history.
The top five moments in Buffalo Sabres history: Moment #5 – Winning the first overall pick of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, June 11th, 1970
Easily one of the top moments in Buffalo Sabres history, the hard-luck franchise struck gold, as 1970 was the first year where the top prospects were open for any of the then-14 NHL teams to draft. In the past, such players held affiliations with a franchise and ended up playing for them. And Gilbert Perreault was the projected top selection.
Since the Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks were starting play, they held the top two picks. But the NHL could only award the top selection to one team. This required a roulette wheel featuring numbers two through 12. Vancouver had numbers two through six, and the Sabres had eight through 12. Seven was neutral.
When NHL President Clarence Campbell spun the wheel, he erroneously awarded the Canucks the first pick, claiming it landed on the number one. However, since there is no number one, Punch Imlach, then the coach and general manager of the Sabres, contested the result and told Campbell to recheck the wheel, which landed on #11.
This, in turn, became the first of many victories for the Sabres in the 1970s, as they used the selection on Perreault. Just a few short years later, Perreault teamed with Rick Martin and Rene Robert to form the legendary French Connection.
Article Source: NHL Draft Stories: The Wheel by Connor Lapalme
Moment #4 – Winning The Fog Game, May 20th, 1975
Not only is this one of the greatest moments in Buffalo Sabres history, it is arguably one of the greatest moments in NHL history. It occurred in Game Three of the 1975 Stanley Cup Final, and it was truly a situation where nature reminded us all that it rules the world, as hazy conditions outside, combined with a lack of air conditioning in what was the Memorial Auditorium, fog rose from the ice, rendering conditions nearly unplayable.
But, the players got the game in and the fans in Buffalo were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Sabres found themselves nearly down and out, but Bill Hajt tied the game in the third and the two teams headed into overtime while game officials tried and failed numerous times to get rid of the fog.
Finally, at the 18:29 mark in overtime, Rene Robert converted the game-winning the goal and it kept the Sabres alive in what remains one of the wildest games ever played. The Sabres, unfortunately, would go on to lose the series and the team would not see another Stanley Cup Final until 1999.
Article Source: May 20: Sabres defeat Flyers in 1975 ‘Fog Game’ by John Kreiser
Moment #3 – Winning the Longest Game in Team History, April 27th, 1994
When you play in the longest game in franchise history, it’s only worth it if you win it. Fortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, they won it. The game, a 1-0 goaltender stalemate for what became quadruple overtime, finally ended at nearly 2:00 am.
If there is no other contest in the 1990s that shows just how good of a goaltender Dominik Hasek was, it’s this Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Matchup. Just take a look at some of those epic saves in the video below.
When you watch the clip, you will be left with little wonder of why Hasek was such a force to be reckoned with during his time in the Queen City. It also shows you why Hasek won six Vezinas and two Harts, among a slew of other honors and accolades.
And as with the Fog Game, the aftermath of the event was not kind to the Sabres, as they would lose Game Seven and return to Buffalo empty-handed. Once again, it showed that the Sabres, despite coming off on the winning end in so many hard-fought battles, just could not win when things mattered the most.
Article Source: 50 most memorable games in Sabres history by Mike Harrington
Moment #2 – R.J. Night, April 1st, 2022
You might be surprised that, as bad as the Buffalo Sabres were in the 2010s and at least during the first half of the 2020s, that there would never be a top five moment in franchise history that took place during their infamous drought. Unless someone who served as the franchise’s voice for a half-century is calling the final few games of his career.
Yes, Rick Jeanneret was the glue that held the first few generations of Sabres fans, coaches, owners, players, personnel, and everyone connected with them together. Since his voice stood the test of time and his presence remained the only constant through good and bad times, I nearly placed this moment at number one. And perhaps in hindsight, RJ deserves to be at the top.
But I’m sure we can all agree that, perhaps over the last 20 seasons, that there were few moments that came close to this one. And if they did come close, well, RJ was calling the game and was, therefore, part of the action.
We might follow different professional sports beyond the NHL. And oftentimes, when you think of the NFL, for example, a broadcaster’s voice may pop into your mind. For me, it’s Pat Summerall. And it shows you just how much value and influence an announcer can have. Rick Jeanneret had that influence for Buffalo fans, and this is a moment in Sabres history that will never be forgotten.
Moment #1 – Winning the Prince of Wales Trophy, May 31st, 1999
When you watch the final five minutes of this contest, I don’t care how long in the past it has been, the adrenaline rush will occur. The Toronto Maple Leafs were in all-out attack mode and the Buffalo Sabres were hanging to that 3-2 lead by less than a thread.
Several times, it looked as though the Leafs would tie this one, but Dominik Hasek did what Dominik Hasek did best: He took his many risks and somehow ended up with saves only a man gifted with superhero powers could come up with.
The Sabres, shorthanded, seized their opportunity when the Leafs pulled their goaltender from the net, and aced the game, four to two. The win gave them their first Conference Championship since 1975, and it took six games, three overtimes, and the most controversial goal in NHL history to put them away when it was said and done.
Related Story. 5 greatest goalies of all-time on the Sabres. light
Once again, the Sabres could not win the most important, high-stakes battle. But once again, they won so many times that season in entertaining fashion. And it at least gave them a chance to win it all.