
Rick Martin averaged two points/game as he helped lead the ’79-’80 Sabres to the Qualifying Final. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
The reigning representatives got off to a great start with Rick Martin scoring just eight seconds into the game, which was the first of five goals in the opening period of Game 1. The 3rd-seeded ’79-’80 Sabres took the opening game 7-5 with Danny Gare and Ric Seiling both notching three-point games. The 7th-seeded ’75-’76 Sabres responded with a 6-4 win in Game 2 as Peter McNab totaled a goal and three assists to lead the way. Then, in Game 3, the ’79-’80 Sabres scored three goals in the first to propel them to a 6-3 win. Martin netted two goals to lead the way, but he was just one of 11 players for the ’79-’80 Sabres to register a point, six of which registered multi-point games. The ’79-’80 Sabres then scored four goals in the second period of Game 4 to lead them to a 5-1 win. Gilbert Perreault and defenseman Richie Dunn both posted three-point games to lead the reigning reps to a 3-1 series lead. The 79-’80 Sabres completed the series win with a 4-1 win in Game 5. Perreault, again, posted a three-point game to lead the way offensively.
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’75-’76 Sabres | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 |
’79-’80 Sabres | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 7 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 7 ’75-’76 BUF – 5 (1-0 ’79-’80 BUF)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: RW – Danny Gare (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +3 5 S
2nd Star: LW – Rick Martin (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +2 5 S
3rd Star: RW – Ric Seiling (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +1 2 S
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’75-’76 Sabres | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 6 |
’79-’80 Sabres | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’75-’76 BUF – 6 ’79-’80 BUF – 4 (1-1)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Peter McNab (’75-’76 BUF) – 1 G 3 A 4 P +3 3 S
2nd Star: LW – Rick Martin (’75-’76 BUF) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +3 9 S
3rd Star: LW – Rick Martin (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 5 S
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’79-’80 Sabres | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 |
’75-’76 Sabres | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | 3 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 6 ’75-’76 BUF – 3 (2-1 ’79-’80 BUF)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – Rick Martin (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +2 5 S 2 PIM
2nd Star: RW – Ric Seiling (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 5 S
3rd Star: LW – Craig Ramsay (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +2 2 S
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’79-’80 Sabres | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 5 |
’75-’76 Sabres | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 5 ’75-’76 BUF – 1 (3-1 ’79-’80 BUF)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +3 5 S 2 PIM
2nd Star: D – Richie Dunn (’79-’80 BUF) – 0 G 3 A 3 P +2 1 S
3rd Star: G – Don Edwards (’79-’80 BUF) – W 1.00 GAA .971 SV% (33 SV’s)
1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
’75-’76 Sabres | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 |
’79-’80 Sabres | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 4 ’75-’76 BUF – 1 (4-1 ’79-’80 BUF)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +2 6 S 2 PIM
2nd Star: RW – Danny Gare (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G 0 A 1 P +2 8 S
3rd Star: LW – Rick Martin (’79-’80 BUF) – 0 G 2 A 2 P +1 1 S
This sets up a 2015 Buffalo Sabres Qualifying Final between the top-seeded ’74-’75 Sabres and the reigning representatives, the 3rd-seeded ’79-’80 Sabres!