This Day in Buffalo Sports History: Long wait between drinks
February 11, 1999 -- A member of the Buffalo Sabres made some very unlikely National Hockey League history on this night, and that's understating the case if anything.
Start with the fact that Randy Cunneyworth scored a goal for the Sabres. Cunneyworth was just up from Rochester of the American Hockey League.
The winger hadn't scored in a Buffalo uniform since 1981. That was the longest gap between goals for the same team in NHL history.
Cunneyworth's score fit the night's theme, as the Sabres beat Montreal, 5-2. He joined Paul Kruse and Mike Wilson as those who scored the first goal of their NHL seasons.
In fact, Kruse and Cunneyworth played on a line with Rob Ray, and they were in top form.
"That was the best line we had tonight," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said.
Cunneyworth's last game as a Sabre was Game Six of the NHL Finals against Dallas. You may remember how that one came out.
--- Budd Bailey
