List of Buffalo Sabres seasons

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
1974–75 1	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)
1979–80 1	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)
1994–95 2	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
2004–05 3	2004–05	Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06 4	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
2012–13 5	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
2019–20 6	2019–20	Eastern	Atlantic	6th	69	30	31	—	8	68	195	217	—	—	—	—	—	Did not qualify
2020–21 7	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.

²Season was shortened due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout.

³Season was cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

⁴As 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.

⁵The 2012–13 NHL season was shortened due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

⁶The 2019–20 NHL season was suspended on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

⁷The 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