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List of Buffalo Sabres seasons

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The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] Founded in 1970 as an expansion franchise, the Sabres played their homes games at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium from their inaugural season to 1996, and currently play in the KeyBank Center. The 2023–24 NHL season marked the 54th year of operation for the franchise. As of the end of the 2023–24 season, the Sabres have won 1,918 regular season games, accumulated six division championships and one conference championship, tied for the league lead in points once, appeared in the playoffs 29 times, and reached the Stanley Cup finals twice, losing both times.[2]

An indoor arena with a roof which has three levels full of fans surrounding an ice rink
The interior of KeyBank Center during a Sabres home game in 2023

The Sabres started play in 1970, and made their first Stanley Cup appearance in 1975, losing the finals in six games against the Philadelphia Flyers. Over the next 10 seasons, the Sabres made a postseason appearance every year, advancing as far as the semifinals in the 1979–80 season, where they lost the series to the New York Islanders in five games. During the ten-year postseason appearance streak, the Sabres won the Prince of Wales Conference twice and the Adams Division three times. The 1985–86 season marked the first time the Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs since the 1973–74 season, missing the point cutoff by 4 points. The Sabres returned two years later in the 1987–88 season, beginning an eight-year postseason appearance streak. During this period, the Sabres only made it past the first round once in the 1992–93 season, where they were subsequently eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in a sweep. The Sabres missed the playoffs in 1996, finishing in 11th of the Eastern Conference with 73 points,[3] 15 points behind the last team that qualified in the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sabres returned to the postseason the following year, starting their most successful postseason appearance streak, lasting for five years. Compared to the previous streak, the Sabres managed to advance past the first round in every season with the exception of the 1999–2000 season. The 1999 playoff run is the most recent appearance in the Stanley Cup finals for the Sabres as of the 2023–24 season. The Sabres had won the conference by beating the Senators, the Bruins, and the Maple Leafs. The Sabres faced the Dallas Stars in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, a series that they lost in six, albeit in dubious fashion. The series ended with a controversial triple-overtime goal in game six where replays showed that Stars forward Brett Hull scored with his skate in the crease. Despite the Sabres protesting the goal, the league stated that the goal had been reviewed and was judged as a good goal.[4]

Following the 2000–01 season, the Sabres went on a three-year postseason appearance drought. After returning from the 2004–05 lockout, the Sabres returned to the postseason, making it to the conference finals against Carolina Hurricanes which was lost in seven. The 2006–07 season saw the Sabres put on their best performance in franchise history, with a franchise-high 53 wins to win the division and the Presidents' Trophy at 113 points.[5] With their regular season success, they advanced to the conference finals for the second year in a row, where they lost to the Senators in five. The Sabres would not make the playoffs for another two seasons. The Sabres won the Northeast division in the 2009–10 season and moved on to the playoffs, being eliminated in the first round by the Bruins in six. The same fate happened the following year when they made the playoffs and got eliminated in the first round, this time by the Philadelphia Flyers in seven. Since the 2010–11 season, the Sabres have not made a playoff appearance, setting the all-time record for longest postseason appearance drought in NHL history at 13 years and tying with the New York Jets for the longest active postseason drought across the major four professional sports leagues across North America.[6] The Sabres have also not won a single postseason series since the 2006–07 season, tying for 5th in all-time postseason series win droughts. The playoff drought has been accredited to multiple reasons, including failures of rebuilds, a lack of depth in rosters, and injuries to key players over multiple seasons.[7]

Table keys

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Key of colors and symbols
Color/symbol Explanation
† Stanley Cup champions
‡ Conference champions
↑ Division champions
# Led league in points
Key of terms and abbreviations
Term or abbreviation Definition
Finish Final position in division or league standings
GP Number of games played
W Number of wins
L Number of losses
T Number of ties (ending after the 2004–05 season)
OT Number of losses in overtime (since the 1999–2000 season)
Pts Number of points
GF Goals for (goals scored by the Sabres)
GA Goals against (goals scored by the Sabres' opponents)
— Does not apply

Year by year

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Full list of Buffalo Sabres seasons
NHL season Sabres season Conference Division Regular season[8][9] Postseason
Finish GP W L T OT Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Playoffs Result
1970–71 1970–71 — East 5th 78 24 39 15 — 63 217 291 — — — — — Did not qualify
1971–72 1971–72 — East 6th 78 16 43 19 — 51 203 289 — — — — — Did not qualify
1972–73 1972–73 — East 4th 78 37 27 14 — 88 257 219 6 2 4 16 21 Lost quarterfinals to Montreal Canadiens, 2–4
1973–74 1973–74 — East 5th 78 32 34 12 — 76 242 250 — — — — — Did not qualify
1974–75 1974–75 Wales‡[a] Adams↑ 1st 80 49 16 15 — 113 354 240 17 10 7 53 58 Won quarterfinals vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 4–1
Won semifinals vs. Montreal Canadiens, 4–2
Lost Stanley Cup Finals to Philadelphia Flyers, 2–4
1975–76 1975–76 Wales Adams 2nd 80 46 21 13 — 105 339 240 9 4 5 25 29 Won preliminary round vs. St. Louis Blues, 2–1
Lost quarterfinals to New York Islanders, 2–4
1976–77 1976–77 Wales Adams 2nd 80 48 24 8 — 104 301 220 6 2 4 21 19 Won preliminary round vs. Minnesota North Stars, 2–0
Lost quarterfinals to New York Islanders, 0–4
1977–78 1977–78 Wales Adams 2nd 80 44 19 17 — 105 288 215 8 3 5 22 22 Won preliminary round vs. New York Rangers, 2–1
Lost quarterfinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4
1978–79 1978–79 Wales Adams 2nd 80 36 28 16 — 88 280 263 3 1 2 9 9 Lost preliminary round to Pittsburgh Penguins, 1–2
1979–80 1979–80 Wales‡ Adams↑ 1st 80 47 17 16 — 110 318 201 14 9 5 48 36 Won preliminary round vs. Vancouver Canucks, 3–1
Won quarterfinals vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 4–0
Lost semifinals to New York Islanders, 1–4
1980–81 1980–81 Wales Adams↑ 1st 80 39 20 21 — 99 327 250 8 4 4 30 30 Won preliminary round vs. Vancouver Canucks, 3–0
Lost quarterfinals to Minnesota North Stars, 1–4
1981–82 1981–82 Wales Adams 3rd 80 39 26 15 — 93 307 273 4 1 3 11 17 Lost division semifinals to Boston Bruins, 1–3
1982–83 1982–83 Wales Adams 3rd 80 38 29 13 — 89 318 285 10 6 4 31 35 Won division semifinals vs. Montreal Canadiens, 3–0
Lost division finals to Boston Bruins, 3–4
1983–84 1983–84 Wales Adams 2nd 80 48 25 7 — 103 315 257 3 0 3 5 13 Lost division semifinals to Quebec Nordiques, 0–3
1984–85 1984–85 Wales Adams 3rd 80 38 28 14 — 90 290 237 5 2 3 22 22 Lost division semifinals to Quebec Nordiques, 2–3
1985–86 1985–86 Wales Adams 5th 80 37 37 6 — 80 296 291 — — — — — Did not qualify
1986–87 1986–87 Wales Adams 5th 80 28 44 8 — 64 280 308 — — — — — Did not qualify
1987–88 1987–88 Wales Adams 3rd 80 37 32 11 — 85 283 305 6 2 4 22 28 Lost division semifinals to Boston Bruins, 2–4
1988–89 1988–89 Wales Adams 3rd 80 38 35 7 — 83 291 299 5 1 4 14 16 Lost division semifinals to Boston Bruins, 1–4
1989–90 1989–90 Wales Adams 2nd 80 45 27 8 — 98 286 248 6 2 4 13 17 Lost division semifinals to Montreal Canadiens, 2–4
1990–91 1990–91 Wales Adams 3rd 80 31 30 19 — 81 292 278 6 2 4 24 29 Lost division semifinals to Montreal Canadiens, 2–4
1991–92 1991–92 Wales Adams 3rd 80 31 37 12 — 74 289 299 7 3 4 24 19 Lost division semifinals to Boston Bruins, 3–4
1992–93 1992–93 Wales Adams 4th 84 38 36 10 — 86 335 297 8 4 4 31 28 Won division semifinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–0
Lost division finals to Montreal Canadiens, 0–4
1993–94 1993–94 Eastern[b] Northeast 4th 84 43 32 9 — 95 282 218 7 3 4 14 14 Lost conference quarterfinals to New Jersey Devils, 3–4
1994–95[c] 1994–95 Eastern Northeast 4th 48 22 19 7 — 51 130 119 5 1 4 13 18 Lost conference quarterfinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4
1995–96 1995–96 Eastern Northeast 5th 82 33 42 7 — 73 247 262 — — — — — Did not qualify
1996–97 1996–97 Eastern Northeast↑ 1st 82 40 30 12 — 92 237 208 12 5 7 27 34 Won conference quarterfinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 4–3
Lost conference semifinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4
1997–98 1997–98 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 36 29 17 — 89 211 187 15 10 5 46 32 Won conference quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–1
Won conference semifinals vs. Montreal Canadiens, 4–0
Lost conference finals to Washington Capitals, 2–4
1998–99 1998–99 Eastern‡ Northeast 4th 82 37 28 17 — 91 207 175 21 14 7 59 49 Won conference quarterfinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 4–0
Won conference semifinals vs. Boston Bruins, 4–2
Won conference finals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 4–1
Lost Stanley Cup Finals to Dallas Stars, 2–4
1999–2000 1999–2000 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 35 32 11 4[d] 85 213 204 5 1 4 8 14 Lost conference quarterfinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 1–4
2000–01 2000–01 Eastern Northeast 2nd 82 46 30 5 1 98 218 184 13 7 6 38 30 Won conference quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2
Lost conference semifinals to Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–4
2001–02 2001–02 Eastern Northeast 5th 82 35 35 11 1 82 213 200 — — — — — Did not qualify
2002–03 2002–03 Eastern Northeast 5th 82 27 37 10 8 72 190 219 — — — — — Did not qualify
2003–04 2003–04 Eastern Northeast 5th 82 37 34 7 4 85 220 221 — — — — — Did not qualify
2004–05[e] 2004–05 Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06 2005–06 Eastern Northeast 2nd 82 52 24 —[f] 6 110 281 239 18 11 7 60 49 Won conference quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2
Won conference semifinals vs. Ottawa Senators, 4–1
Lost conference finals to Carolina Hurricanes, 3–4
2006–07 2006–07 Eastern Northeast↑ 1st 82 53 22 — 7 113# 308 242 16 9 7 44 39 Won conference quarterfinals vs. New York Islanders, 4–1
Won conference semifinals vs. New York Rangers, 4–2
Lost conference finals to Ottawa Senators, 1–4
2007–08 2007–08 Eastern Northeast 4th 82 39 31 — 12 90 255 242 — — — — — Did not qualify
2008–09 2008–09 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 41 32 — 9 91 250 234 — — — — — Did not qualify
2009–10 2009–10 Eastern Northeast↑ 1st 82 45 27 — 10 100 235 207 6 2 4 15 16 Lost conference quarterfinals to Boston Bruins, 2–4
2010–11 2010–11 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 43 29 — 10 96 245 229 7 3 4 18 22 Lost conference quarterfinals to Philadelphia Flyers, 3–4
2011–12 2011–12 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 39 32 — 11 89 218 230 — — — — — Did not qualify
2012–13[g] 2012–13 Eastern Northeast 5th 48 21 21 — 6 48 125 143 — — — — — Did not qualify
2013–14 2013–14 Eastern Atlantic[h] 8th 82 21 51 — 10 52 157 248 — — — — — Did not qualify
2014–15 2014–15 Eastern Atlantic 8th 82 23 51 — 8 54 161 274 — — — — — Did not qualify
2015–16 2015–16 Eastern Atlantic 7th 82 35 36 — 11 81 201 222 — — — — — Did not qualify
2016–17 2016–17 Eastern Atlantic 8th 82 33 37 — 12 78 201 237 — — — — — Did not qualify
2017–18 2017–18 Eastern Atlantic 8th 82 25 45 — 12 62 199 280 — — — — — Did not qualify
2018–19 2018–19 Eastern Atlantic 6th 82 33 39 — 10 76 226 271 — — — — — Did not qualify
2019–20[i] 2019–20 Eastern Atlantic 6th 69 30 31 — 8 68 195 217 — — — — — Did not qualify
2020–21[j] 2020–21 — East 8th 56 15 34 — 7 37 138 199 — — — — — Did not qualify
2021–22 2021–22 Eastern Atlantic 5th 82 32 39 — 11 75 232 290 — — — — — Did not qualify
2022–23 2022–23 Eastern Atlantic 5th 82 42 33 — 7 91 296 300 — — — — — Did not qualify
2023–24 2023–24 Eastern Atlantic 6th 82 39 37 — 6 84 246 244 — — — — — Did not qualify
Totals[k] 4,191 1,918 1,673 409 191 4,436 13,245 12,800 256 124 132 763 765 29 playoff appearances

Notes

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  1. ^ The NHL realigned prior to the 1974–75 season. The Sabres were placed in the Prince of Wales Conference's Adams Division.[10]
  2. ^ The NHL realigned into Eastern and Western conferences prior to the 1993–94 season. Buffalo was placed in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.[11]
  3. ^ The season was shortened to 48 games because of the 1994–95 NHL lockout.[12]
  4. ^ Beginning with the 1999–2000 season, teams received one point for losing a regular season game in overtime.[13]
  5. ^ The season was cancelled because of the 2004–05 NHL lockout.[14]
  6. ^ Prior to the 2005–06 season, the NHL instituted a penalty shootout for regular season games that remained tied after a five-minute overtime period, which prevented ties.[15]
  7. ^ The season was shortened to 48 games because of the 2012–13 NHL lockout.[16]
  8. ^ The NHL realigned prior to the 2013–14 season. The Sabres were placed in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.[17]
  9. ^ The regular season was suspended on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and officially concluded on May 26, 2020, with the announcement of a 24-team expanded playoff to be held in the summer.[18][19] The Sabres played 69 of their scheduled 82 games, and with a .493 win percentage in a strong Eastern Conference, were disqualified from the 2020 playoffs qualifying round.
  10. ^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 NHL season was shortened to 56 games.[20]
  11. ^ Totals as of the completion of the 2023–24 season.

References

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  1. ^ "Rosters, Arena Information, and Aerial Maps". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  2. ^ "Team Index". Hockey Reference. Archived from the original on May 28, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "1995-96 NHL Standings". Hockey Reference. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Murphy, Bryan (May 23, 2024). "Last time Stars won the Stanley Cup: Revisiting the 1999 championship with Joe Nieuwendyk, Brett Hull". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Ryndak, Chris (March 25, 2020). "Sabres Classics: Sabres start 2006-07 season with 10 wins in a row". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Fairburn, Matthew (April 10, 2024). "Sabres miss playoffs for 13th straight season, tie longest active drought in pro sports". The Athletic. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Strozyk, Jacob D. (October 30, 2024). "Buffalo Sabres' Decade of Disappointment". The Hockey Writers. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Buffalo Sabres History". Hockey Reference. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Buffalo Sabres Statistics and History". HockeyDB. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  10. ^ McFarlane, Brian (1992). Stanley Cup Fever: 100 Years of Hockey Greatness. Stoddart. p. 174. ISBN 0-7737-5554-3.
  11. ^ Lapointe, Joe (April 1, 1993). "Hockey; N.H.L. Redraws Map In Realignment Plan". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  12. ^ Swift, E. M. (January 23, 1995). "Drop Those Pucks!". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  13. ^ Lapointe, Joe (September 30, 1999). "Hockey: Preview '99–'00; Overtime Is Now Five Minutes in Hockey Heaven". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  14. ^ "Lockout over salary cap shuts down NHL". ESPN. Associated Press. February 16, 2005. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  15. ^ "Shootouts are fan-friendly". The Washington Times. October 19, 2005. Archived from the original on May 17, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  16. ^ Podell, Ira (January 12, 2013). "NHL lockout ends, training camps set to open". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  17. ^ "NHL slate, division names revealed". ESPN. July 20, 2013. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  18. ^ Young, Jabari (March 12, 2020). "NHL suspends season due to coronavirus". CNBC. Archived from the original on March 12, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  19. ^ Gulitti, Tom (July 13, 2020). "NHL plans to return with 24 teams competing for Stanley Cup". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  20. ^ Knoll, Andrew (December 20, 2020). "N.H.L. and Players' Union Reach Framework for 2020–21 Season". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
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  NODES
Note 3