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Here’s another 1st Round sweep and another series dominated by the higher seed. The ’79-’80 Buffalo Sabres team is the first Sabres team post the “French Connection” years. The two remaining members of that legendary line on this team are Gilbert Perreault and Rick Martin. Perreault had a better series than Martin by posting four goals and two assists for six points while Martin only posted one goal and one assist for two points. The leading scorer for the Sabres was defenseman John Van Boxmeer with three goals and seven assists for 10 points. In net, goaltender Don Edwards did not have much to do as he only saw an average of 18.8 shots per game. He posted a 1.25 GAA and a .933 SV% over the four games.

The ’25-’26 Pirates didn’t muster much so I’ll spend as little time as possible here. The team’s leading scorer was forward Hib Milks with one goal and two assists for three points. However, they did feature Hall of Fame goaltender in Roy Worters who was a rookie during the ’25-’26 season. He posted a 5.25 GAA and a .899 SV%.

Here are this series’ links:

• Game Boxscores/Results
• Team Stats
• Sabres Skater Stats
• Pirates Skater Stats
• Sabres Goalie Stats
• Pirates Goalie Stats

Three Stars of the Series:

1. BUF – D – John Van Boxmeer – 3 G   7 A   10 P   +13   30 S   6 Star Points
2. BUF – RW – Ric Seiling – 3 G   6 A   9 P   +9   12 S   4 Star Points
3. BUF – D – Richie Dunn – 1 G   6 A   7 P   +10   18 S   4 Star Points

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY: BUF – 6   PBP – 1   (1-0 BUF)

1st Period:

• BUF Goal: J. Schoenfeld (1) assisted by R. Seiling (1), D. Smith (1)

2nd Period:

• PBP PP-Goal: L. Conacher (1)
• BUF Goal: C. Ramsay (1) assisted by R. Seiling (2), J. Schoenfeld (1)
• BUF Goal: T. McKegney (1) assisted by L. Playfair (1), J. Schoenfeld (2)
• BUF Goal: D. Gare (1) assisted by G. Perreault (1), J. Van Boxmeer (1)
• BUF Goal: G. Perreault (1) assisted by J. Schoenfeld (3), D. Schultz (1)

3rd Period:

• BUF Goal: G. Perreault (2) assisted by R. Dunn (1)

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY: BUF – 6   PBP – 1   (2-0 BUF)

1st Period:

• BUF Goal: C. Ramsay (2) assisted by J. Van Boxmeer (2), R. Dunn (2)

2nd Period:

• BUF Goal: G. Perreault (3) assisted by R. Dunn (3), J. Van Boxmeer (3)
• PBP Goal: R. Smith (1) assisted by L. Berlinquette (1)
• BUF Goal: D. Gare (2) assisted by R. Dunn (4), J. Van Boxmeer (4)
• BUF Goal: R. Seiling (1) assisted by J. Van Boxmeer (5)
• BUF Goal: J. Van Boxmeer (6) assisted by R. Seiling (3)

3rd Period:

• BUF Goal: R. Martin (1) assisted by D. Gare (1), J. Schoenfeld (4)

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY: BUF – 6   PBP – 1 (3-0 BUF)

1st Period:

• BUF Goal: R. Dunn (1) assisted by C. Ramsay (1), R. Seiling (4)
• PBP Goal: J. Spring (1) assisted by H. Milks (1), R. Smith (1)

2nd Period:

• BUF Goal: G. Perreault (4) assisted by R. Martin (1), D. Gare (2)
• BUF Goal: J. Van Boxmeer (2) assisted by R. Dunn (5)
• BUF Goal: J. Van Boxmeer (3) assisted by R. McClanahan (1), T. McKegney (1)
• BUF Goal: R. Seiling (2) assisted by R. Dunn (6)

3rd Period:

• BUF Goal: D. Smith (1) assisted by R. Seiling (5), J. Van Boxmeer (6)

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY: BUF – 4   PBP – 2   (4-0 BUF)

1st Period:

• BUF Goal: J. Schoenfeld (2) assisted by T. McKegney (2), McClanahan (2)
• PBP Goal: H. Milks (1) assisted by F. Lowrey (1), D. McCurry (1)
• BUF Goal: D. Smith (2) assisted by C. Ramsay (2), R. Seiling (6)

2nd Period:

• BUF Goal: R. Seiling (3) assisted by J. Van Boxmeer (7), D. Smith (2)
• PBP Goal: L. Conacher (2) assisted by H. Milks (2), D. McCurry (2)

3rd Period:

• BUF Goal: D. Gare (3) assisted by G. Perreault (2), D. Schultz (2)

So, the 23rd-seeded ’79-’80 Buffalo Sabres advance to the 2nd Round to face the other franchise from the Steel City in this tournament, the 10th-seeded ’12-’13 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Up next in the 1st Round is a matchup between the 30th-seeded ’11-’12 Phoenix Coyotes and the 35th-seeded ’08-’09 Minnesota Wild.