1996-97 Buffalo Sabres Game-by-Game Results
National Hockey League (NHL)
Team Record: 40-30-12 - 92 points
Finishing 1st in the NHL's Northeast Division
Postseason: 5-7
Lost NHL conference semi-finals
Conference Quarter-Finals - Defeated Ottawa Senators 4-3
Conference Semi-Finals - Lost to Philadelphia Flyers 4-1
Coach: Ted Nolan (40-30-12)
Location: Buffalo, New York
1996-97 Buffalo Sabres StatisticsTeam Record: 40-30-12 - 92 points
Finishing 1st in the NHL's Northeast Division
Postseason: 5-7
Lost NHL conference semi-finals
Conference Quarter-Finals - Defeated Ottawa Senators 4-3
Conference Semi-Finals - Lost to Philadelphia Flyers 4-1
Coach: Ted Nolan (40-30-12)
Location: Buffalo, New York
1996-97 Buffalo Sabres Roster
The Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League ended the 1996-97 season with a record of 40 wins and 30 losses and 12 ties for 92 points, finishing first in the NHL's Northeast Division. The team compiled a postseason mark of 5-7.
The Sabres netted 237 goals and conceded 208. Donald Audette scored 28 goals for Buffalo, while Garry Galley contributed 34 assists. Dominik Hasek earned 37 wins for the squad and a team-best 2.27 goals against average, leading qualifying goaltenders.
Ted Nolan coached the team. The 1996-97 Buffalo Sabres lost in the NHL conference semi-finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Goals For: 237
Regular Season Goals Against: 208
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 4, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Edmonton Oilers 4 | L | 0-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | ||
| October 6, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at Calgary Flames 3 | L | 0-0-0 | 0-2-0 | 0-2-0 | ||
| October 9, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Vancouver Canucks 1 | W | 0-0-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-2-0 | ||
| October 12, 1996 | Detroit Red Wings 6 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | L | 0-1-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-3-0 | ||
| October 15, 1996 | Tampa Bay Lightning 4 at Buffalo Sabres 0 | L | 0-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 1-4-0 | ||
| October 17, 1996 | Pittsburgh Penguins 1 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 1-2-0 | 1-2-0 | 2-4-0 | ||
| October 18, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Washington Capitals 1 | W | 1-2-0 | 2-2-0 | 3-4-0 | ||
| October 24, 1996 | Montreal Canadiens 3 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 2-2-0 | 2-2-0 | 4-4-0 | ||
| October 26, 1996 | Hartford Whalers 3 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 3-2-0 | 2-2-0 | 5-4-0 | ||
| October 27, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at New York Rangers 6 | L | 3-2-0 | 2-3-0 | 5-5-0 | ||
| October 30, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at Dallas Stars 2 | L | 3-2-0 | 2-4-0 | 5-6-0 | ||
| November 1, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at St. Louis Blues 2 | W | 3-2-0 | 3-4-0 | 6-6-0 | ||
| November 2, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at Colorado Avalanche 0 | T | 3-2-0 | 3-4-1 | 6-6-1 | OT | |
| November 7, 1996 | Philadelphia Flyers 5 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | L | 3-3-0 | 3-4-1 | 6-7-1 | ||
| November 9, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Hartford Whalers 4 | L | 3-3-0 | 3-5-1 | 6-8-1 | OT | |
| November 11, 1996 | Florida Panthers 2 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 4-3-0 | 3-5-1 | 7-8-1 | OT | |
| November 12, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at Pittsburgh Penguins 3 | L | 4-3-0 | 3-6-1 | 7-9-1 | ||
| November 14, 1996 | Colorado Avalanche 4 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 5-3-0 | 3-6-1 | 8-9-1 | ||
| November 19, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Toronto Maple Leafs 4 | L | 5-3-0 | 3-7-1 | 8-10-1 | ||
| November 21, 1996 | Toronto Maple Leafs 3 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 6-3-0 | 3-7-1 | 9-10-1 | ||
| November 23, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Boston Bruins 2 | W | 6-3-0 | 4-7-1 | 10-10-1 | OT | |
| November 26, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Florida Panthers 4 | L | 6-3-0 | 4-8-1 | 10-11-1 | ||
| November 27, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Tampa Bay Lightning 0 | W | 6-3-0 | 5-8-1 | 11-11-1 | ||
| November 29, 1996 | Ottawa Senators 0 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 7-3-0 | 5-8-1 | 12-11-1 | ||
| November 30, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at New York Islanders 2 | W | 7-3-0 | 6-8-1 | 13-11-1 | ||
| December 4, 1996 | Vancouver Canucks 7 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | L | 7-4-0 | 6-8-1 | 13-12-1 | OT | |
| December 6, 1996 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 1 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | T | 7-4-1 | 6-8-1 | 13-12-2 | OT | |
| December 7, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Hartford Whalers 6 | L | 7-4-1 | 6-9-1 | 13-13-2 | ||
| December 11, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Montreal Canadiens 2 | W | 7-4-1 | 7-9-1 | 14-13-2 | OT | |
| December 13, 1996 | New York Rangers 3 at Buffalo Sabres 0 | L | 7-5-1 | 7-9-1 | 14-14-2 | ||
| December 14, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Boston Bruins 0 | W | 7-5-1 | 8-9-1 | 15-14-2 | ||
| December 18, 1996 | Tampa Bay Lightning 3 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 8-5-1 | 8-9-1 | 16-14-2 | ||
| December 20, 1996 | Los Angeles Kings 2 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 9-5-1 | 8-9-1 | 17-14-2 | ||
| December 21, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Ottawa Senators 2 | W | 9-5-1 | 9-9-1 | 18-14-2 | ||
| December 23, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at New Jersey Devils 0 | T | 9-5-1 | 9-9-2 | 18-14-3 | OT | |
| December 26, 1996 | Hartford Whalers 1 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 10-5-1 | 9-9-2 | 19-14-3 | ||
| December 28, 1996 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at Pittsburgh Penguins 2 | L | 10-5-1 | 9-10-2 | 19-15-3 | ||
| December 31, 1996 | New Jersey Devils 5 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 11-5-1 | 9-10-2 | 20-15-3 | ||
| January 3, 1997 | St. Louis Blues 2 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | T | 11-5-2 | 9-10-2 | 20-15-4 | OT | |
| January 5, 1997 | Phoenix Coyotes 1 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 12-5-2 | 9-10-2 | 21-15-4 | ||
| January 7, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at San Jose Sharks 1 | T | 12-5-2 | 9-10-3 | 21-15-5 | OT | |
| January 9, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Los Angeles Kings 6 | L | 12-5-2 | 9-11-3 | 21-16-5 | ||
| January 10, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 5 | L | 12-5-2 | 9-12-3 | 21-17-5 | ||
| January 12, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Phoenix Coyotes 2 | W | 12-5-2 | 10-12-3 | 22-17-5 | OT | |
| January 15, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at New York Islanders 1 | W | 12-5-2 | 11-12-3 | 23-17-5 | ||
| January 20, 1997 | Chicago Blackhawks 1 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | W | 13-5-2 | 11-12-3 | 24-17-5 | ||
| January 22, 1997 | Montreal Canadiens 1 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 14-5-2 | 11-12-3 | 25-17-5 | ||
| January 24, 1997 | Edmonton Oilers 3 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | L | 14-6-2 | 11-12-3 | 25-18-5 | ||
| January 25, 1997 | Hartford Whalers 5 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | L | 14-7-2 | 11-12-3 | 25-19-5 | ||
| January 29, 1997 | Pittsburgh Penguins 1 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 15-7-2 | 11-12-3 | 26-19-5 | ||
| January 31, 1997 | Dallas Stars 1 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 16-7-2 | 11-12-3 | 27-19-5 | ||
| February 2, 1997 | Washington Capitals 2 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | T | 16-7-3 | 11-12-3 | 27-19-6 | OT | |
| February 4, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at Philadelphia Flyers 1 | T | 16-7-3 | 11-12-4 | 27-19-7 | OT | |
| February 6, 1997 | Florida Panthers 1 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | T | 16-7-4 | 11-12-4 | 27-19-8 | OT | |
| February 8, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Tampa Bay Lightning 1 | W | 16-7-4 | 12-12-4 | 28-19-8 | ||
| February 9, 1997 | Ottawa Senators 1 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | W | 17-7-4 | 12-12-4 | 29-19-8 | ||
| February 12, 1997 | Montreal Canadiens 2 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | T | 17-7-5 | 12-12-4 | 29-19-9 | OT | |
| February 16, 1997 | San Jose Sharks 2 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 18-7-5 | 12-12-4 | 30-19-9 | ||
| February 18, 1997 | Calgary Flames 5 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | T | 18-7-6 | 12-12-4 | 30-19-10 | OT | |
| February 21, 1997 | New York Islanders 2 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 19-7-6 | 12-12-4 | 31-19-10 | ||
| February 23, 1997 | Boston Bruins 1 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 20-7-6 | 12-12-4 | 32-19-10 | ||
| February 27, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at New Jersey Devils 4 | L | 20-7-6 | 12-13-4 | 32-20-10 | ||
| March 1, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Ottawa Senators 1 | W | 20-7-6 | 13-13-4 | 33-20-10 | ||
| March 5, 1997 | Pittsburgh Penguins 2 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 21-7-6 | 13-13-4 | 34-20-10 | ||
| March 8, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Montreal Canadiens 3 | T | 21-7-6 | 13-13-5 | 34-20-11 | OT | |
| March 9, 1997 | New Jersey Devils 4 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | L | 21-8-6 | 13-13-5 | 34-21-11 | ||
| March 11, 1997 | Philadelphia Flyers 2 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 22-8-6 | 13-13-5 | 35-21-11 | OT | |
| March 15, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 7 at Philadelphia Flyers 5 | W | 22-8-6 | 14-13-5 | 36-21-11 | ||
| March 17, 1997 | Boston Bruins 1 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 23-8-6 | 14-13-5 | 37-21-11 | ||
| March 18, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Pittsburgh Penguins 5 | L | 23-8-6 | 14-14-5 | 37-22-11 | ||
| March 21, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Washington Capitals 1 | W | 23-8-6 | 15-14-5 | 38-22-11 | ||
| March 22, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Florida Panthers 3 | L | 23-8-6 | 15-15-5 | 38-23-11 | ||
| March 26, 1997 | New York Islanders 3 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | L | 23-9-6 | 15-15-5 | 38-24-11 | OT | |
| March 28, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at Detroit Red Wings 2 | L | 23-9-6 | 15-16-5 | 38-25-11 | OT | |
| March 30, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Chicago Blackhawks 3 | L | 23-9-6 | 15-17-5 | 38-26-11 | ||
| April 1, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at New York Rangers 1 | T | 23-9-6 | 15-17-6 | 38-26-12 | OT | |
| April 2, 1997 | Ottawa Senators 2 at Buffalo Sabres 0 | L | 23-10-6 | 15-17-6 | 38-27-12 | ||
| April 4, 1997 | New York Rangers 1 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 24-10-6 | 15-17-6 | 39-27-12 | ||
| April 7, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Hartford Whalers 4 | L | 24-10-6 | 15-18-6 | 39-28-12 | ||
| April 10, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Boston Bruins 1 | W | 24-10-6 | 16-18-6 | 40-28-12 | ||
| April 12, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at Ottawa Senators 1 | L | 24-10-6 | 16-19-6 | 40-29-12 | ||
| April 13, 1997 | Washington Capitals 8 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | L | 24-11-6 | 16-19-6 | 40-30-12 | ||
| April 17, 1997 | Ottawa Senators 1 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| April 19, 1997 | Ottawa Senators 3 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | L | 1-1-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-1-0 | ||
| April 21, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Ottawa Senators 2 | W | 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-1-0 | ||
| April 23, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 0 at Ottawa Senators 1 | L | 1-1-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-2-0 | OT | |
| April 25, 1997 | Ottawa Senators 4 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | L | 1-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 2-3-0 | ||
| April 27, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Ottawa Senators 0 | W | 1-2-0 | 2-1-0 | 3-3-0 | ||
| April 29, 1997 | Ottawa Senators 2 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 2-2-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-3-0 | OT | |
| May 3, 1997 | Philadelphia Flyers 5 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | L | 2-3-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-4-0 | ||
| May 5, 1997 | Philadelphia Flyers 2 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | L | 2-4-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-5-0 | ||
| May 7, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at Philadelphia Flyers 4 | L | 2-4-0 | 2-2-0 | 4-6-0 | ||
| May 9, 1997 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Philadelphia Flyers 4 | W | 2-4-0 | 3-2-0 | 5-6-0 | OT | |
| May 11, 1997 | Philadelphia Flyers 6 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | L | 2-5-0 | 3-2-0 | 5-7-0 |
