The 3rd-seeded ’79-’80 Sabres would be charged with manslaughter after the way Game’s 1 and 2 went. They defeated the 6th-seeded ’97-’98 Sabres by a combined score of 17-2 after the first two games of the series. They won Game 1 by a score of 9-1 and Game 2 by a score of 8-1. In Game 1, Gilbert Perreault tallied six assists to lead them offensively while both Danny Gare and defenseman Jim Schoenfeld posted five point games, three goals and two assists and two goals and three assists, respectively. Gare then posted two goals and three assists in Game 2 while Perreault and defenseman John Van Boxmeer both posted three-point games, two goals and one assist and one goal and two assists, respectively. The rest of the series was respectable for the ’97-’98 Sabres. A PP goal from Derek Smith four and a half minutes into third period was the game-winner in a 4-2 win for the ’79-’80 Sabres in Game 3. Then, the ’97-’98 Sabres avoided the sweep with a 2-1 win in Game 4 with defenseman Jason Woolley scoring the game-winner halfway through the third. Perreault put up two goals and an assist, again, in Game 5 as the reigning representatives finished off the series with another 4-2 win.

GAME 1:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’97-’98 Sabres 0 1 0 — 1 ’79-’80 Sabres 1 4 4 — 9

GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 9 ’97-’98 BUF – 1 (1-0 ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Danny Gare (’79-’80 BUF) – 3 G 2 A 5 P +4 12 S

2nd Star: D – Jim Schoenfeld (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 3 A 5 P +4 11 S

3rd Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’79-’80 BUF) – 0 G 6 A 6 P +4 6 S 2 PIM

GAME 2:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’97-’98 Sabres 0 1 0 — 1 ’79-’80 Sabres 3 5 0 — 8

GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 8 ’97-’98 BUF – 1 (2-0 ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Danny Gare (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 3 A 5 P +4 6 S

2nd Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +4 7 S 2 PIM

3rd Star: D – John Van Boxmeer (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +4 8 S 2 PIM

GAME 3:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’79-’80 Sabres 0 2 2 — 4 ’97-’98 Sabres 1 0 1 — 2

GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 4 ’97-’98 BUF – 2 (3-0 ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Derek Smith (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 0 A 2 P Even 3 S

2nd Star: G – Dominik Hasek (’97-’98 BUF) – L 4.00 GAA .915 SV% (43 SV’s)

3rd Star: D – Richie Dunn (’79-’80 BUF) – 0 G 2 A 2 P Even 2 S

GAME 4:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’79-’80 Sabres 0 1 0 — 1 ’97-’98 Sabres 0 1 1 — 2

GAME SUMMARY: ’97-’98 BUF – 2 ’79-’80 BUF – 1 (3-1 ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Dominik Hasek (’97-’98 BUF) – W 1.00 GAA .973 SV% (36 SV’s)

2nd Star: D – Jason Woolley (’97-’98 BUF) – 1 G 0 A 1 P +2 2 S

3rd Star: LW – Paul Kruse (’97-’98 BUF) – 1 G 0 A 1 P Even 2 S

GAME 5:

1st Period 2nd Period 3rd Period Overtime Total ’97-’98 Sabres 1 0 1 — 2 ’79-’80 Sabres 2 1 1 — 4

GAME SUMMARY: ’79-’80 BUF – 4 ’97-’98 BUF – 2 (4-1 ’79-’80 BUF)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Gilbert Perreault (’79-’80 BUF) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +2 4 S

2nd Star: LW – Rick Martin (’79-’80 BUF) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +1 2 S

3rd Star: D – Darryl Shannon (’79-’80 BUF) – 0 G 2 A 2 P +2 0 S

That concludes the First Round of the 2015 Buffalo Sabres Qualifying Tournament!