February 20th, 1983
Montreal Canadiens (39-23-3) at Buffalo Sabres (40-18-6)
Montreal trails the 2nd place Sabres by 5 points, but Montreal have won all 3 games this season against the Sabres. Montreal's LW
Batsaikhany Vanoosten continues to struggle on the 3rd line this season. With 3 points in his last 13 games he is at least on the plus side of the even strength with a +4 rating in those games. He currently has 7 goals and 21 points in 63 games. He had 45 points in 80-81 and 43 points in 81-82.
As mentioned earlier, Buffalo is in 2nd in the Atlantic, 3 points behind the leading Panthers. Buffalo can certainly light up the lamp, they are 2nd in the NHL with 3.25 goals per game. They are middle of the pack, 17th for goals against at 2.61 per game.
RW
Wilfred Caldwell leads the Sabres with 55 points and 37 assists, with 18 goals in 64 games. The 28 year old two way player is a strong skater. The 1982 All-Star has played 226 career NHL games, all with Buffalo and has 71 goals, 207 points, 100 PIMs and a +46 rating.
C
Colin Gagne leads the team with 25 goals and is 2nd with 49 points in 56 games. The 35 year old offensive forward is a strong playmaker. The 2-time All-Star has played in 220 career NHL games, all with the Sabres, has 87 goals, 213 points, 148 PIMs and a +46 rating.
LW
Jan Pchalek is 3rd on the Sabres with 49 points, has 15 goals in 64 games. The 37 year old offensive forward is a strong playmaker. In 145 career NHL games, all with Buffalo he has 37 goals, 103 points, 77 PIMs and a +17 rating. He was limited to just 28 games in 80-81 due to injury and 53 games in 81-82.
Montreal starts G
Mike Blackshear, he has 32 wins in 53 starts with a .899 save %. Buffalo goes with
Aleksey Zhavronkov, he has 32 wins in 46 starts with a .913 save %.
The period ends with a scoreless tie, Montreal out shot the Sabres 13 to 6.
The score remains 0-0 after 2 periods, the Sabres did out shot Montreal in the 2nd 14 to 5.
The Sabres get the 1st goal of the game at 3:05 of the 3rd period. LW
Bubba Penn gets his 15th of the year and its 1-0 Buffalo. Montreal ties the game up at 17:19 of the 3rd when RW
John Herrod gets his 21st of the year, 8th as a Canadien and it is now 1-1. We are heading to overtime. The shots were 12 to 10 in favour of the Sabres.
Nothing settled in overtime, the shots were 2 to 1 for Buffalo. Both teams end with a 0 for 2 night on the PP. Off to the shootout.
Sabres
Jim Bunting scores the only goal in the shoot out as Buffalo wins.
Buffalo's LW
Bubba Penn is named the 1st star. He has a goal, 3 shots and 20:47 in icetime. The 20 year old Penn now has 15 goals and 28 points in 65 games. In his 2nd season as a Sabre, he has played in 147 career NHL games, has 31 goals, 66 points, 221 PIMs and a +2 rating.
Buffalo 2
Montreal 1 (S/O)
| PER | TEAM | GOAL | # | ASSIST | ASSIST |
| 1st |
| No Scoring |
|
|
|
| 2nd |
| No Scoring |
|
|
|
| 3rd | BUF | Bubba Penn | 15 | Robert Fraser |
|
| 3rd | MTL | John Herrod | 21 | Chris Hughes | Marc-Andre Berube |
| O/T |
| No Scoring |
|
|
|
| S/O | BUF | 1-0 Buffalo |
|
|
|
| MAJOR's |
|
|
|
|
| PER | TEAM | PLAYER | MIN | PENALTY |
| 1st | MTL | Dave Wright | 5 | Fighting |
| 1st | BUF | Jonathan Boily | 5 | Fighting |
| TEAM | GOALIE | SA | GA |
| MTL | Mike Blackshear | 34 | 1 |
| BUF | Aleksey Zhavronkov | 29 | 1 |
Around the league.............
The Calgary Flames have extended LD
Jim Brinker to a 3 year, $12.3 M deal. The 28 year old Brinker has 9 goals and 41 points in 66 games this year. In 123 career NHL games, all with Calgary he has 18 goals, 93 points, 104 PIMs and a +34 rating. Injury's have limited him to just 25 games in 80-81 and 32 in 81-82.
Dallas Stars RW
Domenico Giunti had 2 goals and an assist in a 5-2 win over the Predators. The 27 year old now has 24 goals and 63 points in 67 games. In 3 seasons with the Stars, he has played in 223 career NHL games, has 63 goals, 187 points, 230 PIMs and has a +47 rating.
Chicago Blackhawks LW
Willie Dziemianko had 2 goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over the Islanders. The 19 year old now has 29 goals and 61 points in 67 games. In his rookie season in the NHL, Dziemianko played 2 seasons with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. In 134 WHL games, he had 91 goals, 196 points, 172 PIMs and a +57 rating. He was the Hawks 1st round, 19th overall pick in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.
The Boston Bruins have extended LD
Tom Grimes to a 6 year, $67.0 M deal. The 29 year old Grimes has 8 goals and 33 points in 55 games this season. The 1982 Hart Trophy Winner has played in 219 career NHL games, he has 28 goals, 124 points, 275 PIMs and a +92 rating.
Carolina Hurricanes RW
Patrick Connor had 3 goals in a 7-4 win over the Penguins. The 28 year old now has 35 goals and 66 points in 55 games. The 1981 Maurice Richard Trophy Winner has played in 210 career NHL games, he has 110 goals, 218 points, 388 PIMs and a +57 rating. Connor is 2nd in the NHL for career points, (MTL Chris Hughes 233) and is 1st in career NHL goals.