Month: February 2025

Not since April 7th 1996

Whalers 5 – Sabres 2 (empty net) The Carolina Hurricanes in a nod to their NHL history wore their Hartford Whalers sweaters while hosting Buffalo last night and I enjoyed the game with a sense of nostalgia and deja vu, that is until the Sabres went down 1-3 in the first period.

So far in their 3-game season series both Buffalo and Carolina have won at home with the deciding game occurring this April in Buffalo.

Hartford’s first season in the NHL after the WHA/NHL merger ended up seven games under 500% and were still in the playoffs…shortly, as Montreal swept them in the preliminary round.

Then after five seasons of no playoff seedings they won their one and only playoff series in 1986 versus the Quebec Nordiques and for the next 11 seasons either lost in the first round or did not qualify for the playoffs.

The floundering franchise was sold and moved down south where they lost a Cup to Detroit (2002) won a cup versus Edmonton (2006) after getting past Buffalo in the semi-finals 18 seasons ago.

Next up a home and home series with Montreal March 1st and 3rd with Saturday night’s game here along the Lake.

Winnipeg sets team record with 11th victory

Jets 4 – Senators 1 The NHL’s league leader the Winnipeg Jets keep winning and Ottawa remains two points from a wild card seeding after these O’Brien Cup combatants played in their Nation’s capital.

Avalanche 5 – Devils 1 Unfortunately Mr. Bettman continues to bend the NHL’s knee to leftist narratives and push sexual perversion propaganda making last night’s game in Colorado uncomfortable for some viewers.

Canucks 3 – Kings 2 OT Vancouver takes the three-game season series with Los Angeles 2-1, the Canucks took 6 SOG in the first and scored, did the same thing in the second period, and took 1 SOG in OT for the win on a 17 SOG effort.

Buffalo is one of 24 teams competing tonight as the Sabres visit North Carolina.

Fowl play during an 11 penalty first period

Sabres 3 – Ducks 2 Here along the Lake the Sabres have won their sixth consecutive home game in stunning fashion coming from two goals down during the third period to win without a powerplay or empty net goal.

The Ducks scored twice with the power play, a two-man advantage and a one-man advantage to carry a 2-0 lead into the final period of play.

In the first nine and half minutes Buffalo scored three times with the initial tally coming in the first two minutes of the third period, then three minutes later RW Tuch scored his 20th of the season.

D Jokiharju scored an incredible short-side, upper corner, with barely enough space for the puck to go through shot nearly halfway through the period that was similar to the one he scored for Finland during the 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament.

Buffalo takes both contests from Anaheim in their two-game season series by the identical 3-2 score, next up the Hurricanes as the Sabres travel to Raleigh for tomorrow night’s game.

February 25th, 1978

Sabres 13 – Barons 3 Playing in the Coliseum at Richfield, Ohio 47 seasons ago the Buffalo Sabres fell behind 2-1 with seven minutes remaining in the first period.

Buffalo then proceeded to score the next 10 goals to go up 11-2, putting three of them into the net during the first three minutes of the third period, the Barons put on a brave face scoring their third and final goal to get within eight with five and a half minutes remaining in the game.

Two quick power plays during the final three minutes put Buffalo up 13-3 with 42 seconds to play.

Which Sabres defenseman scored two power play goals in the third period, and earned three assists during the second period?

A) Jim Schoenfeld

B) Jerry Korab

C) Bill Hajt

D) Jocelyn Guevremont

Last week’s answer: Roger Neilson

In the spirit of the 3-way tie between Paper_girl, Oldfan2010, and Anonymous atop the standings, Challenger70 has been given a bye into the TT contest, with their first response considered practice, similar to a backup goaltender receiving a chance to warmup before entering the game.

Capitals Captain leads the number one team in the NHL

Washington 7 – Oilers 3 The Washington Capitals have evolved from the worst team in NHL history to become a Stanley Cup champion and now with a baker’s dozen worth of goals to go, will have the greatest goal scorer of all time.

It was nice to see a father celebrate with his youngest son, fist bumping through the glass and as it turned out they were able to do it three times last night as LW Ovechkin recorded a hat trick skating even closer to the NHL goal scoring record.

The game itself was exciting for the home fans who had to endure the Oilers scoring first on the power play less than two minutes into the first period and heading into the last two minutes of the period with a 1-0 lead.

But within those last few minutes Washington scored twice and with 24 seconds remaining in the first period took the 2-1 lead into the second period.

Edmonton went from bad to worse as the Capitals torch the Oilers for three more goals and the final one coming with 15 seconds remaining in the second period for the 5-1 score heading into the third period.

The Oilers scored to get within three goals but never any closer as the game ended 7-3 with LW Ovechkin scoring the empty netter that triggered a shower of hats and a rink long skate to fist bump his son for the third time.