(Photo via Getty Images/National Hockey League)

Not much to say about this one, the 23rd-seeded ’79-’80 Buffalo Sabres made it look easy in their sweep of the 42nd-seeded ’25-’26 Pittsburgh Pirates.

Gilbert Perreault was an absolute machine in these four games. He finished first on the Sabres in goals (8), tied for first in assists (7) and first in points (15). Behind him, Danny Gare was second in goals with five. Defenseman Jim Schoenfeld was tied with Perreault for the team lead in assists with seven while fellow defenseman John Van Boxmeer was second with six. Schoenfeld also finished second in points, behind Perreault with nine points. Since they dominated so much, Buffalo didn’t have a single player finish with a negative plus/minus rating. Perreault and Van Boxmeer both posted a +14 rating to lead the Sabres while Schoenfeld and Gare were tied for second with a +13. In goal, Don Edwards didn’t have much to do. He faced an average of about 20 shots on goal per game and allowed just five goals to finish with a 1.25 goals against average to go along with his .945 save percentage. Edwards finished off the series with a 19-save shutout in Game 4.

The Pirates scored just five goals and so Hib Milks‘ two were a team-high as he was the only one to score more than once. Defenseman Lionel Conacher lead them in assists with three, which also gave him the team-lead in points. Milks was tied with Duke McCurry, Rodger Smith and Tex White for second in points with two. Baldy Cotton‘s -2 was a team-high for Pittsburgh. Goaltender Roy Worters faced an onslaught in this series and his numbers reflect that. He had a horrible final line as he posted a 6.00 goals against average and a .858 save percentage.

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 – C – Gilbert Perreault – 8 G   7 A   15 P   +14   26 S   3 GWG   2 PIM   9 Star Points
2. BUF – LW – Rick Martin – 3 G   5 A   8 P   +9   16 S   5 Star Points
3. BUF – RW – Danny Gare – 5 G   3 A   8 P   +13   29 S   4 Star Points

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY:  ‘79-’80 BUF – 6   ‘25-’26 – PTP – 1   (1-0   ‘79-’80 BUF)

1st Period:

• 8:38 – BUF: R. Martin (1) unassisted
• 11:27 – BUF: G. Perreault (1) assisted by J. Schoenfeld (1), D. Gare (1)
• 12:02 – PTP: H. Milks (1) assisted by L. Conacher (1)

2nd Period:

• 9:43 – PP – BUF: D. Gare (1) assisted by R. Martin (1), J. Schoenfeld (2)
• 14:05 – BUF: T. McKegney (1) assisted by J. van Boxmeer (1), J. Gould (1)

3rd Period:

• 9:36 – BUF: R. Dunn (1) assisted by T. McKegney (1), J. van Boxmeer (2)
• 10:51 – BUF: R, Martin (2) assisted by D. Gare (2), G. Perreault (1)

TEAM STATS:

STARS OF THE GAME:

• 1st Star: Rick Martin (BUF)
• 2nd Star: Danny Gare (BUF)
• 3rd Star: Gilbert Perreault (BUF)

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY:  ‘79-’80 BUF – 6   ‘25-’26 – PTP – 2   (2-0   ‘79-’80 BUF)

1st Period:

• 4:32 – BUF: D. Gare (2) assisted by G. Perreault (2), J. Schoenfeld (3)
• 7:56 – BUF: D. Gare (3) unassisted
• 12:50 – PTP: B. Cotton (1) assisted by D. McCurry (1)
• 16:35 – BUF: J. Schoenfeld (1) assisted by R. McClanahan (1)
• 18:30 – PTP: H. Darragh (1) assisted by R. Smith (1), L. Conacher (2)

2nd Period:

• 0:33 – BUF: G. Perreault (2) assisted by R. Martin (2), J. Van Boxmeer (3)
• 16:51 – PP – BUF: J. Van Boxmeer (1) assisted by G. Perreault (3)

3rd Period:

• 15:20 – BUF: G. Perreault (3) assisted by J. Schoenfeld (4), D. Schultz (1)

TEAM STATS:

STARS OF THE GAME:

• 1st Star: Gilbert Perreault (BUF)
• 2nd Star: Jim Schoenfeld (BUF)
• 3rd Star: Danny Gare (BUF)

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY:  ‘79-’80 BUF – 6   ‘25-’26 – PTP – 2   (3-0   ‘79-’80 BUF)

1st Period:

• 0:22 – BUF: R. Martin (3) assisted by J. Van Boxmeer (4), G. Perreault (4)
• 7:27 – BUF: D. Gare (4) assisted by R. Martin (3), G. Perreault (4)
• 9:58 – BUF: G. Perreault (4) assisted by J. Van Boxmeer (5)
• 19:05 – PTP: D. McCurry (1) assisted by T. White (1), L. Conacher (3)
• 19:15 – BUF: G. Perreault (5) assisted by J. Van Boxmeer (6)

2nd Period:

• 2:11 – BUF: D. Gare (5) assisted by G. Perreault (5), J. Schoenfeld (5)
• 3:53 – BUF: J. Schoenfeld (2) assisted by R. McClanahan (2)
• 13:28 – SH – BUF: G. Perreault (6) assisted by L. Playfair (1), D. Schultz (2)

3rd Period:

• 12:06 – PP – PTP: H. Milks (2) assisted by T. White (2), R. Smith (2)
• 14:27 – BUF: G. Perreault (7) assisted by R. Martin (4)
• 14:47 – BUF: R. Seiling (1) assisted by D. Smith (1)

TEAM STATS:

STARS OF THE GAME:

• 1st Star: Gilbert Perreault (BUF)
• 2nd Star: Rick Martin (BUF)
• 3rd Star: Danny Gare (BUF)

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY:  ‘79-’80 BUF – 3   ‘25-’26 – PTP – 0   (4-0   ‘79-’80 BUF)

1st Period:

• 9:15 – BUF: G. Perreault (8) assisted by D. Gare (3), J. Schoenfeld (6)
• 16:33 – BUF: D. Schultz (1) assisted by G. Perreault (6), J. Schoenfeld (7)
• 19:51 – BUF: J. Van Boxmeer (2) assisted by D. Smith (2), R. Dunn (1)

2nd Period:

3rd Period:

TEAM STATS:

STARS OF THE GAME:

• 1st Star: Don Edwards (BUF)
• 2nd Star: Gilbert Perreault (BUF)
• 3rd Star: Jim Schoenfeld (BUF)

So, the reigning Semifinalists, the 23rd-seeded ’79-’80 Buffalo Sabres easily advance into the Second Round. They now advance to play the 10th-seeded ’00-’01 New Jersey Devils, who are making their UNP debut. The 42nd-seeded ’25-’26 Pittsburgh Pirates have now lost in the First Round in both of the first two UNP’s to the surprise of no one.

Up next in the First Round are the 27th-seeded ’82-’83 Minnesota North Stars and the 36th-seeded ’71-’72 California Golden Seals, who are both making their UNP debuts!