Editing Roger Crozier (section)

===Buffalo Sabres (1970–77) and Washington Capitals (1977)===
In the [[1970 NHL Expansion Draft]], Buffalo Sabres General Manager [[Punch Imlach]] drafted [[Tom Webster (ice hockey)|Tom Webster]] from the [[Boston Bruins]] and promptly dealt him to the Red Wings for Crozier.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jJBaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N0oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5022,4247804&dq=roger+crozier+buffalo+sabres&hl=en|title=Detroit deals Crozier in hockey's Expansion Draft|work=[[Ludington Daily News]]|date=1970-07-11|access-date=2013-01-11 |page=3}}</ref> Crozier started the Sabres' first NHL game on October 10, 1970, against the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]. He stopped all but one of 36 shots to earn the franchise's first victory, 2–1.<ref name="buffalosportshalloffame.com"/> On December 6, 1970, Crozier earned the franchise's first shutout in a 1–0 win over the [[Minnesota North Stars]]. By late December however, Crozier was deeply exhausted and most of the Sabres' goaltending duties fell upon [[Joe Daley (ice hockey)|Joe Daley]] and [[Dave Dryden]]. Crozier finished the season with a 9–20–7 record and a 3.68 GAA. The Sabres also missed the playoffs, finishing fifth in the [[1970-71 NHL season|East Division]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1971.html|publisher=Sports Reference|title=1970–71 NHL season summary| access-date=2013-01-07}}</ref> Adding to Crozier's continual health problems, his [[gallbladder]] was removed during the off-season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GDg_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=5VEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2731,3588432&dq=roger+crozier+life&hl=en|title=Crozier shuts out Canucks|last=MacLaine|first=Ian|work=The Windsor Star|date=1972-01-20|access-date=2013-01-07|page=85}}</ref>

The [[1971–72 NHL season|1971–72 season]] was even worse for the Sabres as they finished with the fewest wins in the league with 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1972.html|publisher=Sports Reference|title=1971–72 NHL season summary|access-date=2013-01-07}}</ref> Crozier posted a 13–34–14 record and a 3.51 GAA. He faced 2,190 shots during the season, a team record which stands to this day.<ref name="buffalosportshalloffame.com">{{cite web|url=http://buffalosportshallfame.com/member/roger-crozier/|publisher=Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame|title=Roger Crozier|access-date=2013-01-09}}</ref> The Sabres improved in [[1972–73 NHL season|1972–73]] and made the playoffs for the first time in their history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r8gyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H-0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5653,76768&dq=buffalo+sabres+make+playoffs&hl=en|title=Playoff breakthrough for Sabres|work=Ottawa Citizen|date=1973-04-02|access-date=2013-01-12 |page=14}}</ref> In 49 games, Crozier had his first winning record with the Sabres and he posted a much improved 2.76 GAA. In the first round, the Sabres faced the Montreal Canadiens. Crozier played four games and won two, but the Sabres were dispatched in six games.

Still suffering from pancreatitis and now afflicted by ulcers and gallbladder problems, Crozier saw his playing time greatly reduced.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YnFhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TI0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2101,3251498&dq=roger+crozier+pancreatitis&hl=en|title=Goalie in awe of Sabres|work=[[Sarasota Journal]]|date=1975-11-15|access-date=2013-06-02 |page=21}}</ref> In [[1974–75 NHL season|1974–75]], he posted 17 wins and two losses, helping the Sabres rank first in the [[Adams Division]].<ref name="hr 1974-75">{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1975.html|publisher=Sports Reference|title=1974–75 NHL season summary|access-date=2013-01-09}}</ref> During the playoffs, Crozier played five games, including two in the [[1975 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]]. After eliminating the Black Hawks and the Canadiens, the Sabres faced the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] in the Stanley Cup Finals.<ref name="hr 1974-75"/> Game three of the Finals in Buffalo was known as the "Fog Game"; a heat wave in May hit the arena and with no air conditioning inside, the temperature increased. Fog started to develop and soon visibility decreased. [[Gerry Desjardins]] was the starting goaltender but after allowing three goals in the first period, he was replaced by Crozier. Crozier allowed one goal during the rest of the game and helped the Sabres win 5–4 in [[overtime (ice hockey)|overtime]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V0wfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f9EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2149,2292142&dq=fog+game+buffalo&hl=en|title=Flyers, Sabres hope fog, bats float off|work=[[Daytona Beach Morning Journal]]|date=1975-05-22|access-date=2013-01-11 |page=19}}</ref> With the Sabres trailing in the series 3–2, Crozier was selected to start game six and he shut out the Flyers in the first two periods. In the third period the Flyers score the only goals of the game, and they won the Stanley Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_1975.html|publisher=Sports Reference|title=1975 NHL Playoffs Summary|access-date=2013-05-03}}</ref> For the third time, Crozier's team lost in the finals.

In [[1975–76 NHL season|1975–76]], Crozier played in only 11 games due to his persisting ailments. The Sabres traded him to the [[Washington Capitals]] in exchange for cash on March 3, 1977.<ref name="legendsofhockey.net"/> He played only three games with the Capitals before retiring after 14 seasons in the NHL.