Gilbert Perreault vs. Lanny McDonald - Showdown 78

Gilbert Perreault squares off against Lanny McDonald in this installment of Showdown 78. Rogie Vachon is in goal and ready for the challenge. Hockey Night in Canada has always had the best intermission entertainment, and here's just another reason why.

[@Wad9591]

I loved those guys. None today can compare with them. Not even close.

[@jayem1826]

Number 11. Smooth as silk

[@onelove1968]

it was taped in the brand new Markham Centennial Arena. My dad took me to this back in the day. It was the biggest thing to happen in our little town back in the late 70's. I remember Mike Palmateer putting on an incredible acrobatic goal-tending show for the fans. this was the golden era of hockey. 100% pure and fresh.

[@dyates6380]

You're so right. My favorite time to be an NHL fan. Loved every guy in this tournament.

[@Addin78]

Gil Perreault , what a gifted player!

[@jeffthewhiff]

Yes, Gil could do it all! The NHL should bring this back along with a newer version of "Peter Puck!"

[@leafyutube]

Best Buffalo Sabre ever, to this day.

[@jeffthewhiff]

Yes, Gil was a great player and the Sabres were very fortunate to have him as their first ever draft pick. It is only a shame that he was not able to win a Stanley Cup in his career.

[@jameswade9375]

this man could fly on skates.. and he could dip c dooly around any one

[@jameswade9375]

man he could skate...

[@onelove1968]

yep, that's the markham centennial arena. fans were allowed in for certain showdown events held on the weekends such as the breakaway contests and 3 on 3 games. being from markham, my dad took me to see this showdown series when i was 12. it still is one of my most beloved childhood memories. these players were my gods.

[@briangoodwin8281]

I grew up in Markham to, this will always be the new arena to me. Although I liked the old arena better. Great town togrow up in in the 70s and 80s

[@dippin1523]

Perreault is one of the greatest players to ever play hockey. Can u imagine if he played on Montreal with Lefleur. lol omg

[@fastfootedone]

can you imagine if he had played in California with Stan Gilbertson??

[@davidthompson62]

The Canadians GM tried desperately to get Buffalo’s 1st round pick off of Buffalo through a trade (They screwed California out of their 1st round pick in 1971 to get Guy Lafleur) but Buffalo was having none of it.

[@EmilyShoutsILY]

both perreault and vachon were on those back to back memorial cup teams..superstar status for sure..

[@Lanarkwow]

I remember watching this as a kid in the late 1970's. It would be during the first intermission and then i would have to go to bed when it was done! I never got to see the full game until later on.. heh!!!

[@onelove1968]

yep, the equipment (and sweaters) were much smaller back in the day which really helped to highlight each players raw talent and overall skill sets. many players still didn't wear helmets which just added to their unique personalities and style of play. the game was perfect back then. i feel so lucky to have been a young fan during that golden era when the actual game was the entertainment, not the ridiculous circus around it.

[@altfactor]

In the 1973-74 and 1974--75 seasons, "Showdown" was also shown between periods of NBC's Sunday-afternoon NHL broadcasts. After NBC dropped the NHL in 1975, the next few years of "Showdown" were seen in some U.S. cities between periods of local telecasts of hometown NHL clubs.

[@dyates6380]

Right. I remember when NBC had NHL hockey on Sunday afternoons. Loved it.

[@Sp33gan]

I remember being glued to the TV when Showdown came on. Far more interesting than watching talking heads discuss what we've already seen in the previous period unless it was Howie Meeker breaking it all down, or Coach's Corner. It's the only time I've ever liked a shootout. Lose the lame skills competition in the All-Star game and bring back Showdown!

[@dyates6380]

Perreault my favorite as a Sabre fan, of course, but the best mustache goes to Lanny. He was a HELL of a player.

[@armbender777]

my 2 idols when i was a kid..

[@mysteriomarvel933]

Great stuff...how can I purchase this and other showdown on dvd?

[@canbest7668]

So glad they used the audio equipment from the Gemini Space Program

[@donandannie4u2]

The old Maple Leaf Gardens organ sounds great

[@kilgoretroutcanada]

I was hoping to hear some great organ music but Brian and Howie (Calder trophy winner) kept going on about #11. I can't hear Proud Mary without thinking about Gilbert.

[@stevegormick2492]

Would be nice if the sound was better

[@lesterkonieczny1574]

The blade that cut the deepest

[@TotalityProductions]

Obviously some audio trouble with the original recording, that's how it was broadcast.

[@liveclassictunes]

In September 1979, Leafs GM Punch Imlach went to court in an unsuccessful attempt to get an injunction to stop Sittler and teammate Mike Palmateer from appearing on the TV show Showdown. Sittler had a no-trade clause in his contract and, through his agent, had insisted on $500,000 to waive it. With Sittler apparently untouchable, Imlach traded Sittler's best friend Lanny McDonald to the moribund Colorado Rockies on December 29, 1979. An anonymous player told the Toronto Star that Ballard and Imlach made the trade specifically to undermine Sittler's influence on the team. Eagleson, who was also Sittler's agent, called the trade "a classless act.

[@metalguru8140]

No wonder the team went to complete shit in the 80's with such self-destructive and borderline retarded management.

[@dyates6380]

As an old, both literally and figuratively, Sabre fan, I can attest to how Imlach had a bit of a "prick" side of him. He always had to have the top hand and be the guy in charge, and if something like what you alluded to did happen, I can definitely see him doing this. I even remember him going out of his way to attempt to have a couple Sabre players not play in an international tournament. It would have made ZERO difference as the season wasn't even in session. He was just a prick sometimes. Big headed and always had so show he was the boss.

[@altfactor]

Might Rogers Sportsnet revive "Showdown" next season as the long-term replacement for "Coach's Corner"?? Or will Rogers simply run a "Sportsnet Central In-Game" as a replacement segment?

[@gibby100]

what's with the arena music so loud? or is that an ice cream truck driving buy?

[@lionel19651]

was it taped in a shopping center?

[@ronmailloux9370]

yeah whats with the icecream truck music?

[@wsbill14224]

Apparently someone shot this off a screen at an arena, so you hear what's going on at the arena as it runs.

[@TotalityProductions]

@dunett70 Bottoms Up!!

[@edwardbliss8931]

I'm hearing that Sabre Dance song

[@hockeyteeth]

funny how this is the old school all star shit, and nobody is fucking there??

[@MrGoodweedindeed]

Perreault sure could aim his slap shots. Now a days they just wrist it and some still miss. Old Gil's was slapping them and spanking the targets. Lanny was good player too. Led the flames to a cup win in 89 when he was in his twilight of his career. Hard to imagine how empty these coliseums are, hardly anyone even showed up to watch these games.

[@dyates6380]

These weren't always open to the public, just a few of the competitions were. Mostly this was just for the taping of these ahead of time to be shown at a later date.

[@mikestevenson576]

Would've been packed if open to the public.

[@MrGoodweedindeed]

@gibby100 If you listen it is like church music. Many of these games were on Sunday and people would attend them like attending mass. Even at 5:10 Lanny is crossing his chest in prayer.

[@dyates6380]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂!!!!!! Well played my friend. LOL!!!!!!!

[@gregkash]

Lanny McDonald should of chosen fighting as his event.

[@dippin1523]

Perreault would have dropped him as he was an amateur boxer.

[@dyates6380]

@@dippin1523 Yes, as people don't realize this. I'm an old Sabre fan and it was strange how seldom Perreault fought. Most people thought because he was one of the elite on the team and that was for the other guys to do, as in protect him, but people didn't realize how incredibly strong he was. If you even watch his skating style, it's evident how he powers through his strides and you can see how with even one arm can fend off a defenseman. I did see him fight, and I mean it may have been one or two times, and he won handily. Richard Martin was the fighter on the line though. He was a ferocious puncher and rarely lost a fight, but Perreault was strong as a bull.

[@paulcaruana4090]

Perreault was badass. He could fight. No one would mess with him. Ask Mario Lemieux. 1x they had words and Perreault just shook him by the jersey and Mario wanted nothin to do with him. Foligno was scrapping with another guy and Perreault was making sure he was left alone. Paul Gillis from Quebec too. Backed down

[@noroar3258]

damn , this is fresh off the leafs upsetting the islanders in the quarter finals 1978 . remember the pyramid power ? haha , good times

[@prun8893]

I preferred to remove the red stickers off of my Kohos. I could shoot harder that way.

[@legros11]

@felled That was 3 out of 5 on Perreault jarhead and he deeked him out of his jockstrap on the last one. If he deeks on all 5 shots, he scores every time, guaranteed !

[@TotalityProductions]

Showdown was an intermission series, completely unrelated to the NHL All-Star Game.

[@patpeterson2671]

The difference is .... look at how Lanny finished his career ..... Perreault never came close ............

[@jamescurtis821]

Lanny McDonald couldn't carry Perreault's jock strap. Perreault was one of the game's most talented players ever, while Lanny McDonald is a borderline Hall of Famer. McDonald didn't come anywhere near his contemporary right wingers Guy Lafleur or Mike Bossy.

[@Seoulmanaja]

honestly why would they shoot on the goalies.....deke each time and they would score all the time...they just stand still at the top of the ice...

[@mikestevenson576]

Obviously Gilbert Perrault is going to win against Gordon Lightfoot. This is an absurd show.

[@imilf2003]

Lanny Mcdonald is one of the over rated players ever..