Word: imlach
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...existence of the French Connection reflects the recruiting skill of Sabres' General Manager "Punch" Imlach, the savvy former coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "I've always considered myself lucky," says Imlach, whose Toronto teams won four Stanley Cups, "but I've never been so fortunate as with the Sabres." To determine which expansion team would get first choice in the 1970 player draft, Imlach gained the rights to Perreault by winning a spin on a numbered gaming wheel. Perreault, who, Imlach predicts, "is going to be the greatest hockey player in the world," scored a first...
...next year Imlach drafted Martin, who proceeded to break Perreault's record with 44 goals in his freshman season. Then, in a crafty trade late last season, Imlach rescued Robert from the Pittsburgh Penguins' bench. After experimenting with a half-dozen possibilities, Sabres' Coach Joe Crozier matched Robert with Perreault and Martin, and the French Connection clicked...
...other Buffalo lines lack scoring punch, the defense is inconsistent and the team has done poorly on the road -all of which means that the Sabres are unlikely to win the Stanley Cup this year. But with the proven quality of the French Connection and Imlach's building skills, Buffalo may soon be challenging the old, established N.H.L. teams for pro hockey's biggest prize...
...them. The "little action" Hull refers to is a certain spin given to the puck that makes it dip-sydoodle through the air like a knuckleball, fluttering and dropping as much as 18 in.-at 100-plus m.p.h. For the hapless goalie, says Toronto Maple Leaf Coach Punch Imlach, fielding these unguided missiles is "like standing up at the plate while a baseball pitcher without control throws dust-off pitches at your head...
...games apiece, Sawchuk replaced Bower, now out for good with a groin injury. In three periods he beat back another 37 shots, allowed only a single goal as the Leafs won 4-1. With just one more win to go in the best-of-seven series, Toronto Coach Imlach told his team: "They said you old men couldn't possibly win the Stanley Cup. For some of you it's farewell. Now go out there and stick the puck down their throats." And so they did-with three goals, while Sawchuk was blocking, catching and kicking away everything...