40 Years Ago Tonight...
By Eric Hornick
Game 4
Buffalo 7, Isles 4
The Isles were ready to punch a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their history, and the Coliseum crowd had their brooms ready but the Sabres had other ideas. Buffalo rallied from a 3-1 deficit for a 7-4 win in game 4 of their Semi-Final series. Bob Bourne and Bob Nystrom each scored twice for the Isles.
Gilbert Perreault completed his hat trick into the empty net as the Sabres stopped an 11-game playoff losing streak against the Isles.(one shy of the NHL record against a single opponent).
The Scoring:
1st Period
08:52 NYI PP Bob Bourne (8) Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy
16:14 BUF SH Don Luce (3) Andre Savard
19:13 NYI Bob Bourne (9) Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy
2nd Period
03:28 NYI Bob Nystrom (5) Denis Potvin
07:21 BUF Derek Smith (4) Jim Schoenfeld, Tony McKegney
09:29 BUF PP Gilbert Perreault (6) Derek Smith, Lindy Ruff
11:10 BUF Gilbert Perreault (7) Don Luce
19:30 BUF PP Derek Smith (5) Danny Gare, Gilbert Perreault
3rd Period
01:51 NYI Bob Nystrom (6) Bob Lorimer
12:14 BUF Tony McKegney (3) Danny Gare, Derek Smith
19:47 BUF EN Gilbert Perreault (8)
The Series:
Game 1: Isles 4, Buffalo 2
Game 2: Isles 2, Buffalo 1 (OT)
Game 3: Isles 7, Buffalo 4
Game 4: May 8 - At Buffalo
(Isles lead series, 3-1)
Mini-Skinny:
The Isles were outshot by Buffalo 35-31.... Billy Smith fell to 10-2 in the playoffs while Bob Sauve earned the win... Bob Lorimer went +3 for the Isles, earning a point on each even-strength goal, and not being on-ice for any of the five Sabres goals not scored on the power play...Gilbert Perreault's hat trick was the first of three allowed by the Isles in a playoff game since Rick MacLeish (5-13-1975) and was the first of 3 allowed by the Isles in the Cup era (Paul Holmgren -1980 Final, Wayne Gretzky -1981 Quarter-Finals)...Bob Bourne's two goals gave him the club lead with 9; Bill Barber also had 9...Bryan Trottier's two assists gave him the NHL playoff lead with 20 points; his 12 assists were one behind Bobby Smith's league-leading 13...Both Perreault and Derek Smith tied the club record for points against the Isles in a playoff games (set by Jean Ratelle and Steve Vickers on April 10, 1975).
Overtime is Our Time!
1st round vs LA: Game 3 (W 4-3 Morrow 6:55)
Quarter-Finals vs Bos: Game 1 (W 2-1 Gillies 1:02)
Quarter-Finals vs Bos: Game 2 (W 5-4 Bourne 1:24)
Quarter-Finals vs Bos: Game 4 (L 4-3 O'Reilly 17:13)
Semi-Finals vs Buf: Game 2 (W 2-1 Nystrom 21:20)
Isles Scoring Leaders thru 12 Games
- Bryan Trottier 8-12-20
- Bob Nystrom 6-8-14
- Bob Bourne 9-4-13
Isles +/- Leaders thru 12 Games
- Bob Lorimer +11
- Denis Potvin +8
- Garry Howatt +8
- Gordie Lane +8
Isles Penalty Minute Leaders thru 12 Games
- Garry Howatt 63
- Gord Lane 50
- Duane Sutter 46
- Clark Gillies 46
The Sabres had life, and were heading home. For the first time in a month, Billy Smith would not play - Chico Resch was in goal. We'll pick up the story on Friday, the 40th anniversary of Game 5.
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