Sabres Finest Hour

[Marvelo]

To me this was Buffalo at the top of its game. What ecstasy for those who remember it! the white boards, the white home uniforms, Players with no helmets and Russians with different color helmets. Players who were actually skilled shooters. Cheering crowds that didn't need a horn after a goal to hide the fact that the place sounds like an empty barn...Those were the days. Unfortunately the Sabres can't reserve their best play for the Stanley Cup Finals...

 

[Overeducated Homer]

To me this was Buffalo at the top of its game. What ecstasy for those who remember it! Unfortunately the Sabres can't reserve their best play for the Stanley Cup Finals...

 

 

 

That 1975-1976 team was awesome, coming off the loss to the Flyers in the finals in 1975, they opened the season with a winning streak, and set all kinds of team scoring marks...

 

But something happened to that team in Spring 1976. They faded down the stretch and finished second in the Adams Division to the Bruins. Then they stumbled in the playoffs, first losing the opening game of the preliminaries to St. Louis (making Ed Stanowski look like Gump Worsley) before pulling that series out with 2 OT wins, then blowing a 2-0 lead in the Quarters to the Islanders. From that point on, the team was stuck in the mold of regular season strong/playoff weak, and with the exception of 1979-1980 did not make it past the second round of the playoffs for two decades. It was the Islanders, not the Sabres, who became the dominant team of the late 1970s-early 1980s.

 

I have always wondered what went wrong... and why. Which I suppose would be the common pastime of most WNY sports fans.

 

Sigh.

 

But yes, that game against the Wings was awesome. :thumbsup:

[ntjacks79]

To me this was Buffalo at the top of its game. What ecstasy for those who remember it! Unfortunately the Sabres can't reserve their best play for the Stanley Cup Finals...

 

Definitely recall. To me, the Sabres explosiveness and the passion of Buffalonians for their "awesome new team" in that 1973-1977 time period when I was growing up is why I care so much to this day. I don't think it's ever been matched (the feeling in Buffalo from those years).

[Two or less]

Awesome link, that was awesome. I've read about it numerous times and heard stories from that night from people at a bar once, but never actually seen footage until now, so thanks! :thumbsup:

[Stoner]

It's tough for the youngens to appreciate the atmosphere surrounding games like this, and even moreso the 80 Olympics. chz and d4rk and Jack and others on here probably have never drawn a breath with the US and Soviet Union engaged in a "Cold War." It's funny how history unfolds though. The USSR was labeled an "Evil Empire" three years after this game for invading Afghanistan.

[Stoner]

Love the Ooh Ahh Sabres on the Warpath chants in that film. I know it's crept up here and there over the year, but wouldn't it be cool to bring it back for the 40th anniversary. It's not really politically incorrect, is it?

[mphs mike]

That 1975-1976 team was awesome, coming off the loss to the Flyers in the finals in 1975, they opened the season with a winning streak, and set all kinds of team scoring marks...

 

But something happened to that team in Spring 1976. They faded down the stretch and finished second in the Adams Division to the Bruins. Then they stumbled in the playoffs, first losing the opening game of the preliminaries to St. Louis (making Ed Stanowski look like Gump Worsley) before pulling that series out with 2 OT wins, then blowing a 2-0 lead in the Quarters to the Islanders. From that point on, the team was stuck in the mold of regular season strong/playoff weak, and with the exception of 1979-1980 did not make it past the second round of the playoffs for two decades. It was the Islanders, not the Sabres, who became the dominant team of the late 1970s-early 1980s.

 

I have always wondered what went wrong... and why. Which I suppose would be the common pastime of most WNY sports fans.

 

Sigh.

 

But yes, that game against the Wings was awesome. :thumbsup:

 

I'll always think of Ed Staniowski in that series as PROOF that a hot goaltender can steal a series. He came d@mn close! Outstanding recall and analysis of the reason the Aud roof was raised - literally and figuratively.

[shrader]

It's tough for the youngens to appreciate the atmosphere surrounding games like this, and even moreso the 80 Olympics. chz and d4rk and Jack and others on here probably have never drawn a breath with the US and Soviet Union engaged in a "Cold War." It's funny how history unfolds though. The USSR was labeled an "Evil Empire" three years after this game for invading Afghanistan.

 

Al Qaida really needs to become a sports powerhouse. That's the only way people could ever come close to understanding games like this.

[Stoner]

Al Qaida really needs to become a sports powerhouse. That's the only way people could ever come close to understanding games like this.

 

:clapping:

 

Miller has enough problems with long bombs as it is.

[darksabre]

Al Qaida really needs to become a sports powerhouse. That's the only way people could ever come close to understanding games like this.

 

I could see Al Qaida playing a trap. Defensive shell and then attack at the right moment when the other team isn't expecting it.

[shrader]

I could see Al Qaida playing a trap. Defensive shell and then attack at the right moment when the other team isn't expecting it.

 

And imagine if hide and seek ever became an olympic sport.

[Stoner]

I have an extremist RJ shrieking in my head. Top shelf where Osama hides the cyyyyyyyyyyaaaniiiiiiiide!!!

[korab rules]

Love the Ooh Ahh Sabres on the Warpath chants in that film. I know it's crept up here and there over the year, but wouldn't it be cool to bring it back for the 40th anniversary. It's not really politically incorrect, is it?

If you ever went to a game you would know it is still in use.

[spndnchz]

If you ever went to a game you would know it is still in use.

 

+1

[nobody]

If you ever went to a game you would know it is still in use.

 

 

Obviously not enough people are joining in the chant since you never hear it on the broadcast.

[Marvelo]

That 1975-1976 team was awesome, coming off the loss to the Flyers in the finals in 1975, they opened the season with a winning streak, and set all kinds of team scoring marks...

 

But something happened to that team in Spring 1976. They faded down the stretch and finished second in the Adams Division to the Bruins. Then they stumbled in the playoffs, first losing the opening game of the preliminaries to St. Louis (making Ed Stanowski look like Gump Worsley) before pulling that series out with 2 OT wins, then blowing a 2-0 lead in the Quarters to the Islanders. From that point on, the team was stuck in the mold of regular season strong/playoff weak, and with the exception of 1979-1980 did not make it past the second round of the playoffs for two decades. It was the Islanders, not the Sabres, who became the dominant team of the late 1970s-early 1980s.

 

I have always wondered what went wrong... and why. Which I suppose would be the common pastime of most WNY sports fans.

 

Sigh.

 

But yes, that game against the Wings was awesome. :thumbsup:

 

Funny thing is the Sabres absolutely OWNED the Islanders for several years before that series. I heard once that the Isles modeled themselves after the Sabres in those early years. They were terrible. They couldn't even get one win against Buffalo, and then...the Islanders Dynasty.

[nfreeman]

To me this was Buffalo at the top of its game. What ecstasy for those who remember it! Unfortunately the Sabres can't reserve their best play for the Stanley Cup Finals...

Outstanding. Thanks for posting.

 

Over the summer, to get a hockey fix, I've been watching some of the 1976 and 1981 Canada Cup series. I really like all-star international tournaments (including the basketball World Championships that just concluded) because the skill level AND the intensity level is so high (always for the hockey tournaments and recently for basketball as well).

 

In the 1981 Canada Cup series (ultimately won by Russia), Perreault played on a line with Gretzky and LaFleur until Perreault broke his ankle about 4 games in. That line was as good as it sounds. Just amazing. All 3 were at or close to their peaks. (Gare was on Team Canada as well and played on a line with Marcel Dionne and Rick Middleton, but that line didn't get nearly as many shifts as Perreault's line). Watching those games has made me appreciate 11's greatness all over. I think he'd be the best player in the NHL if he were playing now.

 

It's funny how history unfolds though. The USSR was labeled an "Evil Empire" three years after this game for invading Afghanistan.

Obtuse.

[korab rules]

Obviously not enough people are joining in the chant since you never hear it on the broadcast.

 

Its not a chant that lends itself to great volume - the "ooh ahh" requires a lot of air, but the mechanics don't let you do it very loud, and then there's just not much wind left to do "sabres on the warpath" as loud as those at home would like.

[spndnchz]

Obviously not enough people are joining in the chant since you never hear it on the broadcast.

 

That chant usually happens in the hallways after a win. I've heard it in the arena but few people know of it. They do think it's cool once they find out.

[Stoner]

Obtuse.

The USSR didn't invade Afghanistan three years after this game was played, earning them the moniker "Evil Empire" from Ronnie Raygun?

[nfreeman]

The USSR didn't invade Afghanistan three years after this game was played, earning them the moniker "Evil Empire" from Ronnie Raygun?

Of course. That was not the obtuse part of the statement. I assumed you were implying some kind of moral equivalence between that invasion and the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, without bothering to consider or mention the differences between the 2 situations. If I incorrectly inferred that, I apologize and withdraw the comment. (However, if that was not your intention, then what was the point of your post? If it indeed was your intention, then your post above was also obtuse.)

[Stoner]

Of course. That was not the obtuse part of the statement. I assumed you were implying some kind of moral equivalence between that invasion and the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, without bothering to consider or mention the differences between the 2 situations. If I incorrectly inferred that, I apologize and withdraw the comment. (However, if that was not your intention, then what was the point of your post? If it indeed was your intention, then your post above was also obtuse.)

 

You realize you've just opened yourself up to the rare Double Withdrawal?

[korab rules]

It's tough for the youngens to appreciate the atmosphere surrounding games like this, and even moreso the 80 Olympics. chz and d4rk and Jack and others on here probably have never drawn a breath with the US and Soviet Union engaged in a "Cold War." It's funny how history unfolds though. The USSR was labeled an "Evil Empire" three years after this game for invading Afghanistan.

 

Again with the old guy stuff? You are what - no more than 45, right? How much of this can you remember?

[darksabre]

That chant usually happens in the hallways after a win. I've heard it in the arena but few people know of it. They do think it's cool once they find out.

 

I've never heard it at a game. But I only went to 3 last year.

 

This again comes back to the issue of me wanting to be obnoxious and everyone in my section looking at me like I should sit down and be quiet. Too many prudes at Sabres games. College hockey is so much better.

[Overeducated Homer]

Funny thing is the Sabres absolutely OWNED the Islanders for several years before that series. I heard once that the Isles modeled themselves after the Sabres in those early years. They were terrible. They couldn't even get one win against Buffalo, and then...the Islanders Dynasty.

 

 

I had not heard that, but I can believe it. The Sabres looked like a perfect example of a successful expansion team in the early 1970s... why they did not make it to the mountaintop remains such a puzzle to me.