The ’79-’80 season was the Buffalo Sabres’ 10th anniversary season. (via sportslogos.net)

The reigning representatives were clearly the favorite in this series and they easily clinched a spot in the Ultimate NHL Playoff, again. Goalie Don Edwards stopped 33 of 34 shots against in Game 1 as the 3rd-seeded ’79-’80 Sabres won 5-1. Danny Gare netted a hat trick and added an assist to lead them offensively in the win. Then, in Game 2, the top-seeded ’74-’75 Sabres held a 1-0 lead after the first period thanks to a PP goal from Gare. However, the ’79-’80 Sabres would score six goals in the second period to lead them to a 7-4 win. Rick Martin and Ric Seiling led the way to the win as they both posted three points. The ’79-’80 Sabres won Game 3 by a score of 6-4 to take a 3-0 series lead as Derek Smith‘s three points and Gare’s two goals paved the way. Game 4 turned out to be the tightest game of the series. Don Luce scored almost two and a half minutes into Game 4 for the ’74-’75 Sabres to start the scoring, however, by the end of the period, the ’79-’80 Sabres scored twice to hold a 2-1 lead after one period. Then, Gare scored two and a half minutes into the second period to give the reigning reps a 3-1 lead. The ’74-’75 Sabres got one goal back late in the second, but the ’79-’80 Sabres held on for a 3-2 win to complete the sweep.

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’79-’80 BUF – 5   ’74-’75 BUF – 1   (1-0   ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Danny Gare (’79-’80 BUF) – 3 G   1 A   4 P   +3   8 S

2nd Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   6 S

3rd Star: G – Don Edwards (’79-’80 BUF) – W   1.00 GAA   .971 SV% (33 SV’s)

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’79-’80 BUF – 7   ’74-’75 BUF – 4   (2-0   ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Rick Martin (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +1   6 S

2nd Star: RW – Ric Seiling (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   1 S

3rd Star: C – Derek Smith (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +3   2 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’79-’80 BUF – 6   ’74-’75 BUF – 4   (3-0   ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Derek Smith (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   4 S

2nd Star: RW – Danny Gare (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   -1   10 S

3rd Star: LW – Craig Ramsay (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   2 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ’79-’80 BUF – 3   ’74-’75 BUF – 2   (4-0   ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +1   5 S

2nd Star: G – Gary Bromley (’74-’75 BUF) – L   3.00 GAA   .927 SV% (38 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Fred Stanfield (’74-’75 BUF) – 1 G   0 A   1 P   +1   4 S

The ’79-’80 Buffalo Sabres are the 28th team to qualifying for the upcoming 2015 Ultimate NHL Playoff. It will be their second trip to the tournament and they are the 17th team that will repeat as their franchises representatives. Up next is the 2015 Vancouver Canucks Qualifying Tournament!