1995–96 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 26th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). This was the team's final season at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, their home arena since 1970. They moved to Marine Midland Arena, which is now known as KeyBank Center. However, the Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1987. Regular season The Sabres had the most power-play opportunities during the regular season with 477.

Season standings

Schedule and results

|1||October 7, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||1–0–0 ||

|2||October 9, 1995||3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||1–1–0 ||

|3||October 13, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||1–2–0 ||

|4||October 15, 1995||3–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||1–3–0 ||

|5||October 18, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||2–3–0 ||

|6||October 20, 1995||1–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||2–4–0 ||

|7||October 22, 1995||5–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||3–4–0 ||

|8||October 24, 1995||0–3 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||3–5–0 ||

|9||October 27, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||3–6–0 ||

|10||October 29, 1995||3–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||3–7–0 ||

|11||November 1, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||4–7–0 ||

|12||November 3, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||4–7–1 ||

|13||November 5, 1995||3–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||4–8–1 ||

|14||November 8, 1995||7–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||5–8–1 ||

|15||November 11, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||5–9–1 ||

|16||November 12, 1995||6–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||6–9–1 ||

|17||November 15, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||7–9–1 ||

|18||November 18, 1995||5–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||8–9–1 ||

|19||November 19, 1995||6–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||9–9–1 ||

|20||November 24, 1995||1–1 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||9–9–2 ||

|21||November 25, 1995||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||9–10–2 ||

|22||November 27, 1995||2–0 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||10–10–2 ||

|23||November 29, 1995||3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||10–11–2 ||

|24||December 1, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||11–11–2 ||

|25||December 2, 1995||4–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||11–12–2 ||

|26||December 7, 1995||3–7 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||11–13–2 ||

|27||December 8, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||11–13–3 ||

|28||December 11, 1995||1–6 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||11–14–3 ||

|29||December 13, 1995||4–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||12–14–3 ||

|30||December 15, 1995||5–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||13–14–3 ||

|31||December 16, 1995||3–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||14–14–3 ||

|32||December 20, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||15–14–3 ||

|33||December 22, 1995||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||15–15–3 ||

|34||December 23, 1995||4–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||16–15–3 ||

|35||December 26, 1995||3–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||16–16–3 ||

|36||December 27, 1995||3–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||16–17–3 ||

|37||December 29, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||16–18–3 ||

|38||December 31, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||16–19–3 ||

|39||January 5, 1996||3–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||17–19–3 ||

|40||January 6, 1996||7–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||18–19–3 ||

|41||January 10, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||18–20–3 ||

|42||January 12, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||18–21–3 ||

|43||January 13, 1996||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||18–22–3 ||

|44||January 17, 1996||0–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||18–23–3 ||

|45||January 24, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||19–23–3 ||

|46||January 26, 1996||0–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||19–24–3 ||

|47||January 27, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||19–25–3 ||

|48||January 30, 1996||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||19–26–3 ||

|49||January 31, 1996||6–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||20–26–3 ||

|50||February 3, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||20–27–3 ||

|51||February 4, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||20–28–3 ||

|52||February 7, 1996||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||21–28–3 ||

|53||February 8, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||22–28–3 ||

|54||February 10, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||22–28–4 ||

|55||February 14, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||22–28–5 ||

|56||February 16, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||22–28–6 ||

|57||February 17, 1996||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||22–29–6 ||

|58||February 21, 1996||6–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||23–29–6 ||

|59||February 23, 1996||7–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||24–29–6 ||

|60||February 25, 1996||6–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||25–29–6 ||

|61||February 28, 1996||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||26–29–6 ||

|62||March 1, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||26–29–7 ||

|63||March 3, 1996||0–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||26–30–7 ||

|64||March 6, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||26–31–7 ||

|65||March 8, 1996||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||26–32–7 ||

|66||March 10, 1996||4–6 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||26–33–7 ||

|67||March 13, 1996||6–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||27–33–7 ||

|68||March 15, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||27–34–7 ||

|69||March 16, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||27–35–7 ||

|70||March 18, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||27–36–7 ||

|71||March 22, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||27–37–7 ||

|72||March 23, 1996||7–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||28–37–7 ||

|73||March 27, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||28–38–7 ||

|74||March 29, 1996||5–6 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||28–39–7 ||

|75||March 31, 1996||5–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||28–40–7 ||

|76||April 1, 1996||6–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||29–40–7 ||

|77||April 3, 1996||1–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||29–41–7 ||

|78||April 5, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||30–41–7 ||

|79||April 6, 1996||0–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||30–42–7 ||

|80||April 10, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||31–42–7 ||

|81||April 13, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||32–42–7 ||

|82||April 14, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||33–42–7 ||

Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only. Player Regular season 16 C 76 40 51 91 −8 36 12 LW 74 25 33 58 0 30 26 C 76 23 33 56 −4 28 3 D 78 10 44 54 −2 81 43 RW 67 25 25 50 −8 33 10 LW 79 15 29 44 6 295 44 D 80 6 30 36 −25 58 36 RW 73 15 16 31 −2 335 27 C 68 11 20 31 −1 67 13 LW 66 8 20 28 −12 40 28 RW 23 12 13 25 0 18 19 C 58 10 10 20 −21 37 21 D 60 2 18 20 −12 80 41 C 57 6 10 16 2 30 17 LW 76 5 10 15 −9 148 34 D 58 4 8 12 13 41 18 LW 22 6 4 10 0 31 22 D 52 5 5 10 −5 59 24 RW 22 5 4 9 3 41 32 RW 71 3 6 9 −8 287 8 D 26 2 6 8 10 20 25 W 28 2 5 7 −9 18 8 D 16 0 5 5 −6 18 33 LW 27 4 0 4 −4 67 15 RW 8 2 2 4 1 6 6 D 38 1 3 4 3 52 5 D 47 0 4 4 −12 69 4 D 31 0 1 1 3 104 39 G 59 0 1 1 6 38 D 1 0 1 1 1 2 00 G 3 0 0 0 0 1 G 5 0 0 0 0 37 C 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 D 6 0 0 0 1 28 37 LW 3 0 0 0 0 0 45 C 2 0 0 0 0 10 76 C 2 0 0 0 0 0 31 G 2 0 0 0 2 30 G 22 0 0 0 4 9 RW 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltending = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only. Player Regular season 39 Dominik Hasek 59 22 30 6 2011 161 2.83 .920 2 3417 30 Andrei Trefilov 22 8 8 1 660 64 3.51 .903 0 1094 1 John Blue 5 2 2 0 137 15 3.52 .891 0 255 31 Steve Shields 2 1 0 0 32 4 3.19 .875 0 75 00 Martin Biron 3 0 2 0 64 10 5.05 .844 0 119

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Dominik Hasek

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Mike Wilson November 18, 1995 Steve Shields December 23, 1995 Martin Biron December 26, 1995 Bob Boughner February 3, 1996 Barrie Moore April 5, 1996 Jay McKee April 10, 1996 Scott Nichol April 13, 1996 Vaclav Varada April 14, 1996 1,000th game played Charlie Huddy March 8, 1996 Draft picks Buffalo's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)114Jay McKeeNiagara Falls Thunder (OHL)116Martin BironBeauport Harfangs (QMJHL)242Mark DutiaumeBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)368Mathieu SunderlandDrummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)494Matt DavidsonPortland Winter Hawks (WHL)5111Marian MenhartHC Litvínov (Czech Republic)5119Kevin PoppSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)5123Daniel BienvenueVal-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)7172Brian ScottKitchener Rangers (OHL)8198Mike ZanuttoOshawa Generals (OHL)9224Rob SkrlacKamloops Blazers (WHL)

See also 1995–96 NHL season

Notes

References