Category: Hockey History 1917-2023

Buffalo’s First Goaltender

In 1970-71 the Sabres and Canucks played their inaugural NHL season and there was no League assistance for the two newly minted NHL franchises Buffalo and Vancouver in regards to quality players made available through an expansion draft.

Buffalo and Vancouver were not afforded good to great players similar to Seattle and sin city expansion franchises, never the less GM Imlach knew a goaltender was absolutely necessary and deftly acquired a quality goaltender from Detroit by trading expansion draftee Tom Webster to the Wings for Mr. Crozier.

This was a goaltender that had played eight games for the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL from 1960 – 1963, he played just three regular season games earning a 1.67 GAA during Buffalo’s Championship 1963 AHL Season.

After this, the Blackhawks traded Mr. Crozier to the Red Wings where he played solidly for a declining Detroit team that had finished winning Cups the decade before, and eventually traded him to the expansion Buffalo franchise.

In his first three seasons, Mr. Crozier was the starting goaltender and in the third season Buffalo made the playoffs, in the opening round versus Montreal HC Imlach thought it would be a good idea to play brother against brother in net, so he started Mr. Dryden over Mr. Crozier.

Buffalo’s Dryden goalie lost the first two games of the series versus Montreal allowing seven goals in the second game, prompting a goaltender change and Mr. Crozier won two out of the next four.

During Buffalo’s magical Cup run during the 1974 – 75 NHL Season, Mr. Crozier was stellar playing in 23 regular season games going 17-2-1 with a 2.62 GAA but it was a relatively unknown Mr. Desjardins who played all of nine regular season games that started the playoffs.

During the Semi-Finals versus Montreal, both Mr. Crozier and Mr. Desjardins played three games and both were 2-1 as the Sabres defeated the Canadiens yet it was Mr. Crozier who let in fewer goals and had a better save percentage.

In the Stanley Cup Finals, HC Floyd Smith (Roger’s teammate in Detroit) decided to go again with Mr. Desjardins who let in three goals on 21 shots for the first loss, he is a little better in the next game saving 22 out of 24 shots for the second loss.

In game three Mr. Desjardins lets in three goals on six shots, in comes Mr. Crozier who lets in one goal as he slams the door shut and Buffalo wins their first Finals game in OT.

In game four Mr. Desjardins is back in the net but Buffalo wins 4-2 on the strength of the French Connection and strong defensive play and it’s back to Philadelphia where Mr. Desjardins lets in five goals for the embarrassing 5-1 loss.

Finally, HC Smith starts Mr. Crozier at home and he makes 29 saves on 31 shots letting in only two goals with a .935 save percentage, but the Flyers outstanding goaltender Mr. Parent earned a 2-0 shutout to win the Cup here along the Lake in game six.

Mr. Crozier had constantly suffered from anxiety which led to severe stomach pain resulting in an ulcer at age 17 along with pancreatitis prevented him from playing more games and ultimately ended his playing career.  

The following NHL season Buffalo carried four goaltenders overall and Mr. Crozier played 11 games winning eight and earning a 2.61 GAA but in his early thirties and with health issues the Sabres in March 1977 sold him to the Capitals.

Mr. Crozier was part of the first class inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in 1980 and in 2000 the NHL honored him by creating the “Crozier Saving Grace Award” given annually to the goalie with the best save percentage.

Other notable recognitions were the AHL trophies the “Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award” (outstanding rookie, voted on by media & players), and the “Harry (Hap) Holmes Memorial Award” (lowest GAA).

Two trophies were earned in the NHL, the “Calder Memorial Trophy” (rookie of the year), and the “Conn Smythe Trophy” (playoffs MVP).

Although diminutive in stature compared to the over six feet tall goaltenders of today in his prime Mr. Crozier was the “Dominic Hasek” of the 1960s, he was nimble and quick and played a chaotic unorthodox style similar to Mr. Hasek.

Over the decades from a young boy, teenager, adult, and now senior I have been following the Sabres faithfully since day one and Mr. Crozier is one of my favorite players from the 1970s Sabres teams.

Nothing cures a four-game winless stretch quicker than a seven-goal victory even when it happens versus the last-place team in the league.

What has to be the most frightening 7-3 win the Sabres have ever played began powerfully enough by outshooting the Ducks 19-3 and scoring twice in the first period for the two-nothing lead.

On the heels of two heavy losses where a two-goal lead was lost at home the horrific memories of those games came to the forefront when Anaheim scored three times in less than seven minutes during the second period to take the 3-2 lead.

Soon after, 35 seconds to be exact, Mr. Krebs scored his eighth of the season to tie the game at three and the same line of Mr. Krebs, Mr. Mittelstadt, and Mr. Quinn scored again four and a half minutes later for the 4-3 lead.

The third period was all Buffalo as the Sabres added 13 more SOG to their eventual 44 SOG for the game, played physical through the misconducts, roughing, and cross-checking penalties, and tallied three times to increase their goal output to seven.

In all seven Sabres recorded a two-point night with Mr. Dahlin scoring two assists and also earning another roughing penalty to add to his team-leading PIMs total, Buffalo goes from playing team 30 to playing team 29 this Saturday night versus San Jose.

Approximately at 10 o’clock last night, January 29 the NHL had a tweet of Top 10 Waiver Wire Pickups, who makes these recommendations, and do they even play fantasy Hockey I wonder rhetorically.

Number One Logan Couture

It is unlikely that Mr. Couture is actually on the waiver wire, this player averages 2.2 points per game and is already over 100 points earned total in fantasy this season, but if he was available picking this player up off the waiver wire is a no-brainer.

Number Two Andrew Mangiapane

No reason to pick up this player he is well behind last season’s pace and his total in fantasy is 1.3 points per game with 64.5 points total in 50 games this season, in his last five games one goal and four assists struggling to be average.

Number Three Kirill Marchenko

In 27 NHL games this season, Mr. Marchenko has scored 13 goals, and no assists, he will take a block and hit someone every game, averages 1.7 points per game in fantasy, and has taken only 50 shots on goal, a better overall game is required before acquiring.

Number Four Max Domi

 Mr. Domi in 48 games is averaging 1.5 points a game and earned 74 total fantasy points, he gives a hit or takes a block once every four games and has scored 14 goals with 21 assists there are still waiver wire players that earn more points, go with one of them instead.

Number Five Filip Chytil

A player worth putting on your watch list Mr. Chytil earns 1.8 points per game, will hit and block every game, and is a solid 20-goal scorer in the NHL, and in 41 games he has earned 72 total points, the only drawback is limited ice time.

Number Six Ridly Greig

Unless you have followed Mr. Greig in the WHL and AHL you are not determining in three NHL games if this player would be a positive pick up, in his first NHL game he took 8 SOG and earned an assist, utilize the watch list for now.

Number Seven Kyle Palmieri

Endeavor not to select players over 30 years of age, not that there are not some very productive thirty-something players in the NHL but unfortunately Mr. Palmieri is not one of them, he averages 1.3 points per fantasy game and coming back from injury, old and fragile, steer clear.

Number Eight Samuel Girard

An average NHL second-pairing defenseman Mr. Girard can hit and block with a possible assist every four games, and earning 1.5 fantasy points per game is not going to win any weekly matchups or playoff games, do not select.

Number Nine Daniel Vladar

Mr. Vladar a goaltender for the Calgary Flames a recent Buffalo Winter waiver wire acquisition on the 28th of January a goaltender that has won his last five starts.

In 19 games this season Mr. Vladar has built an 11-4-4 record with a 2.77 GAA and a .904 save percentage for a Calgary team playing for a wild card in the Western Conference, he produces positive fantasy points and could make a difference in the playoffs.

Number Ten Anton Forsberg

Mr. Forsberg runs hot and cold and has won less than half of his starts, an average NHL goalie who mostly remains just above a .900 save percentage but will let in three or four goals consistently, not a fantasy gem by any stretch, leave him on the waiver wire.

Both National anthems are performed and the Jets sported their reverse retro sweaters but that was about all the fans at the game had to cheer about as the Sabres put on a dominant display as they continue to win on the road.

Rookie defenseman Mr. Power makes Sabres history by scoring in three consecutive games with his third of the season past the halfway point of the first period to propel Buffalo into a 1-0 lead.

The Sabres continuously drove Winnipeg back into their zone and with a most impressive puck possession outshot the Jets 28-11 for two periods as Buffalo built a two-goal lead when Mr. Thompson scored his 34th goal approximately six minutes into the second period.  

Buffalo picked up right where they left off in the third by cycling high creating opportunities for defensemen to be open in the offensive zone and continuously putting pucks to the net while keeping their feet moving.

A Winnipeg player dangerously uses the butt end of his stick to hit Mr. Cozens in the neck/jaw area and is penalized after a lengthy review with roughing which the Jets head coach vehemently protests.

Mr. Cozens went to the locker room and did not return while the Sabres took advantage of the power play as Mr. Olofsson scores his 23rd goal of the season to give Buffalo a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 lead with less than half a period to go in the game.

Buffalo is penalized with six minutes remaining and just as Winnipeg pulls their goalie they score just under five minutes left for the 3-1 score than with three minutes in the game the Jets pull the goalie again and score again with less than a minute to go.

The clock is reset twice in the last minute of play and there is another empty net attack, Buffalo ices the puck then an offsides with a faceoff at the 1.1-second mark as the clock and time run out on Winnipeg and their hopeful fans.

Across the NHL last night fans showed their appreciation.

Not that I am a fashionista but it does seem inappropriate to wear midriff-exposing shirts in an ice Hockey arena during the middle of January, I appreciate the aesthetics provided but I paid money and prefer the Hockey game to distract me.  

After the Islanders scored to get within one of the Senators a jubilant New York fan has the Ottawa fans in stitches some are laughing so hard, I have no idea what the Mr. Potvin sweater-wearing fan said, but it must have been a good one.

Incredibly the Columbus Blue Jackets provided false hope to Edmonton fans.

Seattle after half a dozen attempts finally beat the Vancouver Canucks for the first time in their short existence and their fans were pumped.

Fans of all sports exhibit their emotional support of their teams, but Hockey Fans are the real deal, every day, every game, we hoot and holler sometimes until the neighbors call law enforcement, lol.

Football has marching bands and cheerleaders, soccer players pull their shirts over their heads when they score, voluptuous women rush onto baseball fields to kiss players, and basketball fans get bowled over and sometimes smacked by overpaid players along the sidelines.

Hockey fans have been treated to some of the aforementioned antics but overall Hockey gives exactly what the fans desire and that is Hockey!