This is a list of seasons completed by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Sabres have completed in the NHL since their inception in 1970.

Table key

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
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

Season Sabres season Conference Division Regular season[1] Postseason[2]
Finish GP W L T[3] OT[4] Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA 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 in quarterfinals, 2–4 (Canadiens)
1973–74 1973–74 — East 5th 78 32 34 12 — 76 242 250 — — — — — Did not qualify
1974–751 1974–75 Wales‡ Adams↑ 1st 80 49 16 15 — 113 354 240 17 10 7 53 58 Won in quarterfinals, 4–1 (Black Hawks)
Won in semifinals, 4–2 (Canadiens)
Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 2–4 (Flyers)
1975–76 1975–76 Wales Adams 2nd 80 46 21 13 — 105 339 240 9 4 5 25 29 Won in preliminary round, 2–1 (Blues)
Lost in quarterfinals, 2–4 (Islanders)
1976–77 1976–77 Wales Adams 2nd 80 48 24 8 — 104 301 220 6 2 4 21 19 Won in preliminary round, 2–0 (North Stars)
Lost in quarterfinals, 0–4 (Islanders)
1977–78 1977–78 Wales Adams 2nd 80 44 19 17 — 105 288 215 8 3 5 22 22 Won in preliminary round, 2–1 (Rangers)
Lost in quarterfinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
1978–79 1978–79 Wales Adams 2nd 80 36 28 16 — 88 280 263 3 1 2 9 9 Lost in preliminary round, 1–2 (Penguins)
1979–801 1979–80 Wales‡ Adams↑ 1st 80 47 17 16 — 110 318 201 14 9 5 48 36 Won in preliminary round, 3–1 (Canucks)
Won in quarterfinals, 4–0 (Black Hawks)
Lost in semifinals, 1–4 (Islanders)
1980–81 1980–81 Wales Adams↑ 1st 80 39 20 21 — 99 327 250 8 4 4 30 30 Won in preliminary round, 3–0 (Canucks)
Lost in quarterfinals, 1–4 (North Stars)
1981–82 1981–82 Wales Adams 3rd 80 39 26 15 — 93 307 273 4 1 3 11 17 Lost in division semifinals, 1–3 (Bruins)
1982–83 1982–83 Wales Adams 3rd 80 38 29 13 — 89 318 285 10 6 4 31 35 Won in division semifinals, 3–0 (Canadiens)
Lost in division finals, 3–4 (Bruins)
1983–84 1983–84 Wales Adams 2nd 80 48 25 7 — 103 315 257 3 0 3 5 13 Lost in division semifinals, 0–3 (Nordiques)
1984–85 1984–85 Wales Adams 3rd 80 38 28 14 — 90 290 237 5 2 3 22 22 Lost in division semifinals, 2–3 (Nordiques)
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 in division semifinals, 2–4 (Bruins)
1988–89 1988–89 Wales Adams 3rd 80 38 35 7 — 83 291 299 5 1 4 14 16 Lost in division semifinals, 1–4 (Bruins)
1989–90 1989–90 Wales Adams 2nd 80 45 27 8 — 98 286 248 6 2 4 13 17 Lost in division semifinals, 2–4 (Canadiens)
1990–91 1990–91 Wales Adams 3rd 80 31 30 19 — 81 292 278 6 2 4 24 29 Lost in division semifinals, 2–4 (Canadiens)
1991–92 1991–92 Wales Adams 3rd 80 31 37 12 — 74 289 299 7 3 4 24 19 Lost in division semifinals, 3–4 (Bruins)
1992–93 1992–93 Wales Adams 4th 84 38 36 10 — 86 335 297 8 4 4 31 28 Won in division semifinals, 4–0 (Bruins)
Lost in division finals, 0–4 (Canadiens)
1993–94 1993–94 Eastern Northeast 4th 84 43 32 9 — 95 282 218 7 3 4 14 14 Lost in conference quarterfinals, 3–4 (Devils)
1994–952 1994–95 Eastern Northeast 4th 48 22 19 7 — 51 130 119 5 1 4 13 18 Lost in conference quarterfinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
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 in conference quarterfinals, 4–3 (Senators)
Lost in conference semifinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
1997–98 1997–98 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 36 29 17 — 89 211 187 15 10 5 46 32 Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–1 (Flyers)
Won in conference semifinals, 4–0 (Canadiens)
Lost in conference finals, 2–4 (Capitals)
1998–99 1998–99 Eastern‡ Northeast 4th 82 37 28 17 — 91 207 175 21 14 7 59 49 Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–0 (Senators)
Won in conference semifinals, 4–2 (Bruins)
Won in conference finals, 4–1 (Maple Leafs)
Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 2–4 (Stars)
1999–2000 1999–2000 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 35 32 11 4 85 213 204 5 1 4 8 14 Lost in conference quarterfinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
2000–01 2000–01 Eastern Northeast 2nd 82 46 30 5 1 98 218 184 13 7 6 38 30 Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–2 (Flyers)
Lost in conference semifinals, 3–4 (Penguins)
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
2004–053 2004–05 Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–064 2005–06 Eastern Northeast 2nd 82 52 24 — 6 110 281 239 18 11 7 60 49 Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–2 (Flyers)
Won in conference semifinals, 4–1 (Senators)
Lost in conference finals, 3–4 (Hurricanes)
2006–07 2006–07 Eastern Northeast↑ 1st 82 53 22 — 7 113# 308 242 16 9 7 44 39 Won in conference quarterfinals, 4–1 (Islanders)
Won in conference semifinals, 4–2 (Rangers)
Lost in conference finals, 1–4 (Senators)
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 in conference quarterfinals, 2–4 (Bruins)
2010–11 2010–11 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 43 29 — 10 96 245 229 7 3 4 18 22 Lost in conference quarterfinals, 3–4 (Flyers)
2011–12 2011–12 Eastern Northeast 3rd 82 39 32 — 11 89 218 230 — — — — — Did not qualify
2012–135 2012–13 Eastern Northeast 5th 48 21 21 — 6 48 125 143 — — — — — Did not qualify
2013–14 2013–14 Eastern Atlantic 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
2019–206 2019–20 Eastern Atlantic 6th 69 30 31 — 8 68 195 217 — — — — — Did not qualify
2020–217 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
Totals[5] 4,109 1,879 1,636 409 185 4,352 12,999 12,556 256 124 132 763 765 29 playoff appearances
1 Between 1974–75 and 1980–81, Conference championships were awarded to the team that finished first overall in their respective conference in the regular season.
2 Season was shortened due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout.
3 Season was cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout.
4 As of the 2005–06 NHL season, all games tied after regulation will be decided in a shootout; SOL (Shootout losses) will be recorded as OTL in the standings.
5 The 2012–13 NHL season was shortened due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout.
6 The 2019–20 NHL season was suspended on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
7 The 2020–21 NHL season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All-time records

Statistic GP W L T OT
Regular season record (1970–present) 4,109 1,879 1,636 409 185
Postseason record (1970–present) 256 124 132 — —
All-time regular and postseason record 4,365 2,003 1,768 409 185
All-time series record: 21–29

References

  1. ^ Code explanation; GP—Games Played, W—Wins, L—Losses, OT—Overtime/Shootout losses, GF—Goals For, GA—Goals Against, Pts—Points
  2. ^ The result of the playoff series shows the Wild's result first regardless of the outcome, followed by the opposing team in parentheses.
  3. ^ Beginning in 2005, all games have a winner. Ties were eliminated
  4. ^ Beginning in 1999, overtime (and later shootout) losses are worth one point
  5. ^ Totals as of the completion of the 2022–23 season
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