Despite having “The French Connection Line,” the top-seeded ’74-’75 Sabres were led offensively by Don Luce in their six-game victory over the ’76-’77 Sabres. (via thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.com)

The 8th-seeded ’76-’77 Sabres that held a 5-3 lead going into the third period of Game 1. However, Gilbert Perreault and later Danny Gare, on the PP, scored for the top-seeded ’74-’75 Sabres to tie the game and force an overtime. The two teams couldn’t find a goal in the first 20 minutes of overtime so it went to a second overtime where defenseman Larry Carriere scored almost six and a half minutes into the period to win it for the ’74-’75 Sabres. The ’74-’75 Sabres then won Game 2, 5-1, to take a 2-0 series lead and this is where the Don Luce made a statement saying he was gonna be a force in this series. He posted a two goals and an assist in the 5-1 win. The ’76-’77 Sabres got on the board in the series with a 6-3 win in Game 3 as their “French Connection Line,” the legendary line appeared on both teams, combined for six goals and six assists for 12 points in the win.

In Game 4, the ’74-’75 Sabres scored three goals in the first period to lead them to a 5-2 win and a 3-1 series lead. Rick Dudley, as well as Luce and Perreault, posted a goal and an assist for the ’74-’75 Sabres in the win. The ’76-’77 Sabres then bursted out offensively in the first period of Game 5 with four goals and went on to win 5-3. Rick Martin led the ’76-’77 Sabres in the game with two goals and an assists. Then, in Game 6, the third period began tied 3-3, but Luce scored just past halfway through the period for the ’76-’77 Sabres to give them a 4-3 lead. Less than four minutes later, Gare scored his third goal of the game for the ’74-’75 Sabres that tied the game 4-4. Regulation ended with the game still tied so it went to overtime. Then, five plus minutes into overtime, Perreault scored for the ’74-’75 Sabres to give them a 5-4 win and a 4-2 series win.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 6   ’76-’77 BUF – 5   (2OT)   (1-0   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’74-’75 BUF) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +2   6 S

2nd Star: LW – Craig Ramsay (’76-’77 BUF) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   8 S

3rd Star: D – Jerry Korab (’76-’77 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +1   4 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 5   ’76-’77 BUF – 1   (2-0   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Don Luce (’74-’75 BUF) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +3   9 S

2nd Star: LW – Rick Dudley (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +3   5 S

3rd Star: RW – Rene Robert (’74-’75 BUF) – 0 G   3 A   3 P   +2   3 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’76-’77 BUF – 6   ’74-’75 BUF – 3   (2-1   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Rick Martin (’76-’77 BUF) – 1 G   4 A   5 P   +2   8 S

2nd Star: RW – Rene Robert (’76-’77 BUF) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +1   3 S

3rd Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’76-’77 BUF) – 3 G   0 A   3 P   +2   6 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 4   ’76-’77 BUF – 2   (3-1   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Rick Dudley (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   3 S

2nd Star: C – Don Luce (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   4 S

3rd Star: G – Gary Bromley (’74-’75 BUF) – W   2.00 GAA   .949 SV% (37 SV’s)

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY:  76-’77 BUF – 5   ’74-’75 BUF – 3   (3-2   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Rick Martin (’76-’77 BUF) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +2   6 S

2nd Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’76-’77 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   6 S

3rd Star: G – Gerry Desjardins (’76-’77 BUF) – W   3.00 GAA   .929 SV% (39 SV’s)

GAME 6:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 5   ’76-’77 BUF – 4   (OT)   (4-2   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Danny Gare (’74-’75 BUF) – 3 G   0 A   3 P   +1   5 S

2nd Star: C – Don Luce (’76-’77 BUF) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   9 S

3rd Star: G – Gary Bromley (’74-’75 BUF) – W   4.00 GAA   .930 SV% (53 SV’s)

Up next is the 4-5 matchup between the ’06-’07 Sabres and the ’05-’06 Sabres!