It was Rene Robert’s turn to step up on the French Connection Line as he led the top seed offensively in the Semifinal Round. (via hhof.com)

The top-seeded ’74-’75 Sabres took the opening game of the series by a score of 5-2 with wingers Rick Dudley and Danny Gare leading the way. Dudley posted a goal and two assists while Gare netted two goals. Goaltender Gary Bromley stopped 39 of 41 shots against. The 4th-seeded ’06-’07 Sabres rebounded with a 4-2 win in Game 2. Maxim Afinogenov was the only player to post more than one point in the win for the ’06-’07 Sabres as he registered a goal and an assist. In Game 3, Rene Robert scored late in the second period to tie the game 2-2 for the ’74-’75 Sabres. Then, Daniel Paille scored late in the third for the ’06-’07 Sabres, which turned out to be the game-winner, and gave the ’06-’07 Sabres a 2-1 series lead. The ’74-’75 Sabres tied the series 2-2 on the back of four goals in the second period as they went on to win 6-3. In Game 5, the ’06-’07 Sabres scored four goals in the first period and then held on late for a 5-4 win and a 3-2 series lead. Defenseman Brian Campbell tallied four assists and defenseman Dmitri Kalinin netted two goals as they led the ’06-’07 Sabres offensively.

The ’74-’75 Sabres opened up a 2-0 lead just 1:08 into Game 6 thanks to a goal each from Robert and Gare. However, a goal each from Thomas Vanek and Daniel Briere tied the game for the ’06-’07 Sabres by the end of the period. Robert scored 11 seconds into the second period to give the ’74-’75 Sabres a 3-2 lead and they held that going into the third period. Then, just 24 seconds into the third, Gilbert Perreault scored to give the top seed a 4-2 lead. Just five and a half minutes later, the ’06-’07 Sabres tied the game up 4-4. Then, at the 14:55 mark, Dainius Zubrus scored to give the ’06-’07 Sabres their first lead of the game at 5-4. However, just 12 seconds later Jim Lorentz retied the game up 5-5 for the top seed and regulation ended 5-5. Robert ended overtime a minute and a half into the period with a PP goal to complete his hat trick and force a Game 7. The ’74-’75 Sabres then stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period of Game 7. The ’06-’07 Sabres tried to chip away, but Bromley held his own in net by stopping 35 of 37 shots against. The top seed won Game 7, 4-2, with Perreault and defenseman Bill Hajt both tallying two assists to lead them offensively.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 5   ’06-’07 BUF – 2   (1-0   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

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

2nd Star: RW – Danny Gare (’74-’75 BUF) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   3 S

3rd Star: G – Gary Bromley (’74-’75 BUF) – W   2.00 GAA   .951 SV% (39 SV’s)

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’06-’07 BUF – 4   ’74-’75 BUF – 2   (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Maxim Afinogenov (’06-’07 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   3 S

2nd Star: RW – Rene Robert (’74-’75 BUF) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   -2   6 S

3rd Star: G – Ryan Miller (’06-’07 BUF) – W   2.00 GAA   .939 SV% (31 SV’s)

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’06-’07 BUF – 3   ’74-’75 BUF – 2   (2-1   ’06-’07 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Ryan Miller (’06-’07 BUF) – W   2.00 GAA   .950 SV% (38 SV’s)

2nd Star: RW – Rene Robert (’74-’75 BUF) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   -1   5 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: C – Daniel Briere (’06-’07 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +1   9 S   2 PIM

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 6   ’06-’07 BUF – 3   (2-2)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Jerry Korab (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   3 A   4 P   +4   1 S   2 PIM

2nd Star: RW – Rene Robert (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   4 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: LW – Rick Martin (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +1   4 S   2 PIM

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’06-’07 BUF – 5   ’74-’75 BUF – 4   (3-2   ’06-’07 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Brian Campbell (’06-’07 BUF) – 0 G   4 A   4 P   +1   3 S

2nd Star: RW – Rene Robert (’74-’75 BUF) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   +1   3 S

3rd Star: D – Dmitri Kalinin (’06-’07 BUF) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   3 S

GAME 6:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 6   ’06-’07 BUF – 5   (OT)   (3-3)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Rene Robert (’74-’75 BUF) – 3 G   1 A   4 P   Even   6 S

2nd Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   3 A   4 P   +1   5 S

3rd Star: C – Daniel Briere (’06-’07 BUF) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   -1   5 S   4 PIM

GAME 7:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’74-’75 BUF – 4   ’06-’07 BUF – 2   (4-3   ’74-’75 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Bill Hajt (’74-’75 BUF) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +4   4 S

2nd Star: G – Gary Bromley (’74-’75 BUF) – W   2.00 GAA   .946 SV% (35 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’74-’75 BUF) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +1   2 S

Up next in the other Semifinal is a matchup between the 3rd-seeded ’79-’80 Sabres and the 7th-seeded ’75-’76 Sabres!