The French Connection (ice hockey)
The French Connection is the nickname of a forward line that played for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League from 1972 until 1979.
The trio accounted for most of Buffalo's scoring during their seven years together, amassing a total of 1,681 points over 1,536 man-games from 1972 to 1979,[2] while leading the Sabres to the franchise's first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975.
[5] On October 5, 1979, Scotty Bowman traded Robert to the Colorado Rockies for defenseman John Van Boxmeer.
This ended the French Connection era in Buffalo, but not before the trio became the first three players to accumulate 200 goals in a Sabres uniform.
[7] In hopes of averting the lean years that troubled most expansion teams, Punch Imlach, the Sabres first coach and General Manager, attempted to build a high-scoring club to excite the local hockey fans.
Sabres coach Joe Crozier felt the two just needed a third player who would stay high and check.
[9] There are differing claims as to who dubbed the hockey line “The French Connection” as a reference to the Academy Award-winning film.
Origination of the term was often given to writer Lee Coppola when he was operating the Buffalo Auditorium message board and who later became Dean of Journalism at St. Bonaventure University.
He made his mark with the French Connection, as one of the league's most highly regarded powerplay point men, and on the second line penalty killing unit.
[20] Martin's 1975–76 season with 7 hat tricks continues to be tied with Alexander Mogilny for the franchise single-season record.
Martin and Perreault continue to be first and second for rookie season points and goals in franchise history (records set before the arrival of Robert).
[21] The team suddenly went unbeaten in their first 21 home games, while setting a record for post 1967 expansion teams by recording a home winning streak of 12 and while going unbeaten in New York state for 25 games including 1 win at the Nassau Coliseum and 3 at the Madison Square Garden.
During the overtime, play was delayed seven times due to fog on the ice surface at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
Eventually, the French connection combined to score a Martin to Perreault to Robert game-winning goal.
This came after the French Connection swarmed Flyer goalie enabling Bill Hajt to knock in a Rick Martin rebound to send the game to overtime.
On January 4, 1976, the Sabres hosted part of the two-team eight-game NHL tour by the opposing the Soviet Wings.
[4] The line made occasional appearances as members of the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team until Martin's death in March 2011.
