Can't remember when the Sabres pulled one out of the hat with two late goals to get even like they did Wednesday against the Canadiens? That's because it's pretty rare. In fact, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time in franchise history the Sabres got points in a game that they scored two goals with a goalie pulled for an extra attacker.
AP correspondent and WNY stats maven Mike Haim provides more detail, noting it's just the fourth time in franchise history the team got even with two goals in the final two minutes of regulation. The other three games ended in ties. The list from Haim:
12/22/77 vs. Pittsburgh - trailed 3-1, goals by Ric Seiling at 18.19 and Rene Robert at 18.39
1/8/85 vs. Hartford - trailed 4-2, goals by Dave Andreychuk at 19.32 and Mike Foligno at 19.51
12/4/92 vs. NY Islanders - trailed 5-3, goals by Alexander Mogilny at 18.34 and Pat LaFontaine at 19.33
3/24/10 vs. Montreal - trailed, 2-0, goals by Tim Connolly at 18:01 and Steve Montador at 19:12
Amazingly enough, there's a YouTube clip of the Pittsburgh comeback out there from the Penguins' broadcast. Whoever is on the call is downright terrible and a complete homer (love how he says, "we got 'em whipped" at the 1:15 mark of the clip with the score still 3-1).
Afternoon update: Checked on Dylan's comment below and the announcer is, in fact, legendary Pirates play-by-play man Bob Prince. He did Penguins games for one year (1977-78) after he had been whacked by the Bucs and folks in the Burgh hated him on hockey. I can see why. Oy vey.
By the way, Robert scored the tying goal by zipping by Pens defenseman Colin Campbell, now known as the clueless NHL discipline czar. The clip ends with 36 seconds still to play but the game finished in a 3-3 tie.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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ex-Sabres | NHL | Sabres
