Rookie Sheppard Gives the Sabres Scoring Punch

Hockey followers predicted the Buffalo Sabres would have a young, 6-foot-1 forward among the NHL’s rookie scoring leaders this season. Most, however, expected it to be the league’s top draft pick, Pierre Turgeon -- not Ray Sheppard.

Sheppard, a right winger, has taken the spotlight from -- and an equal amount of pressure off -- Turgeon all year long. His 28 goals led the team after 63 games and his eight goals and 13 points in February led to his recently being named the league’s rookie of the month. Turgeon, meanwhile, had just 12 goals and 34 points at the same point in the season.

Sheppard hasn’t been a complete surprise to the Sabres’ brass. After all, he did score 81 goals and 142 points in 63 games for the Cornwall Royals in 1985-86. The native of Pembroke, Ontario, was named Player of the Year and first-team all-star in the Ontario Hockey League that year.

Sheppard and the Sabres expected him to make the NHL last year, but he spent the season in Rochester of the American Hockey League. He maintained the delay in his entry into the NHL was due to an early-season knee injury.

“By the time I could play, it was into the season so they put me in Rochester to get into shape,” Sheppard said. “I didn’t start out too well down there but at the end of the year I came on.”

That he did, scoring 12 goals in 15 playoff games to help the Amerks capture the Calder Cup.

Sheppard said he hasn’t made any drastic changes since last year.

“I’m just taking my time trying to get the perfect shot,” he explained. “I have enough confidence in myself to know that if I get the puck on net there’s a good chance that it will go in.

“I try not to change my game too much. Scoring goals is what I’m here to do. I’ve been getting the puck in good situations, playing with some very good hockey players and lately I’ve been getting the bounces.”

Sheppard, Buffalo’s third-round choice (60th overall) in 1984, was convinced only recently that he would make it to the NHL.

“It was my last year in juniors,” he remembered. “That’s a tough league, and if you can get 81 goals there, you’re going to do all right a league or two above that.”

Coach Ted Sator said Sheppard has what it takes to be an NHL star.

“Ray was one of the leading forces for Rochester winning the Calder Cup last year,” Sator said. “He’s shown right from the outset of training camp that he can score in the NHL as well. No question about it, his ability to put the puck in the net is his strength.”

Sheppard was put on a line with center Turgeon in training camp and has stayed there most of the season.