Sabres Classics: May Day!

You know Rick Jeanneret's legendary call. You can probably recall the images of the goal - Pat LaFontaine falling as he pushes the puck up to Brad May, May putting the puck between Ray Bourque's legs as he cuts towards the net, the celebratory mad dash up the ice.

But what else do you recall about the circumstances surrounding Game 4 of the 1993 Adams Division Semifinals? The pressure mounted from a decade of playoff struggles? The Sabres' tumultuous slide to end the regular season? How about the comeback that made May's goal possible in the first place?

It's all part of what makes "May Day" a special part of Sabres lore, and you can relive it all tonight at 8 p.m. when "Rivalry Week" begins on MSG.

Until then, here's a refresher.

How we got here

The Sabres made a habit of getting to the playoffs throughout the 1980s. Their fortunes changed once they got there.

By 1992-93, it had been 10 years since the Sabres last won a playoff series. They had made eight first-round exits in that span, including in each of the past five seasons. The closest they had come to advancing was one year prior, when they fell to Boston in seven games.

"It weighed on us," May said.

The two teams seemed to be on opposite trajectories when it came time for their rematch to open the playoffs in 1993. The Bruins had won 18 of 21 games to finish the regular season, claiming the top spot in the Adams Division. The Sabres had lost seven contests in a row.

On the surface, it seemed like a mismatch. But the Sabres knew there was more to that losing streak than met the eye.

"[Coach] John Muckler, he was killing us on the ice in practice," May recalled. "We knew we were going to play Boston at the time, so he literally for two weeks sacrificed those seven games in many ways by trying to get us in the best shape we could be in and play the type of game that was necessary."

It worked. The Sabres won Game 1 in the Boston Garden, 5-4, on Bob Sweeney's overtime goal, then earned a 4-0 victory in Game 2 behind Grant Fuhr's 34-save effort. They earned another overtime victory in front of a raucous crowd at The Aud in Game 3, this time on a goal from Yuri Khmylev.

"Absolutely electric crowd," May said. "It was amazing."

The game

The Bruins took a 5-2 lead on Dave Poulin's shorthanded goal at 2:13 of the second period. Earning a series sweep over their rival would take a comeback by the Sabres.

Fortunately, the 1992-93 Sabres had no shortage of firepower. LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny were coming off record-setting regular seasons in which they combined for 129 goals and 275 points. Dale Hawerchuk was a master playmaker. Khmylev and Sweeney were both 20-goal scorers.

Together, they chipped away at the Boston lead. Donald Audette scored to make it 5-3 in the second period. May earned the assist on Mogilny's goal midway through the third, then Khmylev - the Game 3 hero - tied the score less than a minute late.

"We literally were out of that game," May said. "Boston, the best team in the league at that time, obviously starting to get momentum. We turned the corner. It was awesome. When we were down and out, we found a way to fight back and survive and get into that extra time in overtime. "

It culminated in arguably the most famous goal in Sabres history, scored 4:48 into the extra period.

"It was pretty amazing, I was playing with Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny," May recalled. "The breakout pass was Doug Bodger to Patty. I came across on a route that we all would practice every day. I got a great pass from a falling Pat LaFontaine.

"And then, honestly, I remember the images. I've heard the call so many times. I don't know if I remember it live, but I was able to put the puck between Ray Bourque's feet. He's a Hall of Famer, I beat him, which was pretty cool. But it was a moment of time."

The aftermath

The Sabres saw their season end in the second round against Montreal in one of the quirkier series in franchise history. All four games ended with a 4-3 final. Three of the four contests went to overtime.

Crucially, the Sabres lost both Mogilny and LaFontaine to injuries during Game 3.

While the playoff run ended prematurely, May's goal has lived thanks in part to Jeanneret's classic call: "May Day! May Day! May Day!"

"They've asked me, 'When did you plan to do that?'" Jeanneret said. "I say, 'Plan? That guy hadn't scored in 18 games!'"

"Obviously, the history of the goal was Rick Jeanneret," May said. "I mean, the goal was cool, we move on, I have a moment in my career that hasn't died. It's really cool. They play it every time going into the playoffs for 26 years now. So, I'm awfully thrilled and certainly honored to have that moment. Not every player gets that.

"But Rick Jeanneret, his call was extra special. When he got inducted into the Hall of Fame, I want to say they played that call when he was walking up on the stage. Rick and I are good buddies, but forever linked certainly in Sabres lore. I'm awfully proud of that."