The 2003–04 Buffalo Sabres season was the 34th season of operation for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Regular season On March 17, 2004, Derek Roy scored just 15 seconds into the overtime period to give the Sabres a 4–3 road win over the Atlanta Thrashers. Roy tied the Blackhawks' Mark Bell, who had also scored 15 seconds into the overtime period in Chicago's 4–3 home win over the Detroit Red Wings on December 11, 2003. Both goals would end up being the fastest overtime goals scored during the 2003-04 NHL regular season.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||October 9, 2003||0–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||0–1–0–0 ||
|2||October 11, 2003||0–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2003–04) ||0–2–0–0 ||
|3||October 13, 2003||4–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (2003–04) ||1–2–0–0 ||
|4||October 16, 2003||1–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04) ||1–3–0–0 ||
|5||October 18, 2003||2–0 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (2003–04) ||2–3–0–0 ||
|6||October 20, 2003||1–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04) ||2–4–0–0 ||
|7||October 23, 2003||5–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (2003–04) ||3–4–0–0 ||
|8||October 24, 2003||5–2 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04) ||4–4–0–0 ||
|9||October 26, 2003||3–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (2003–04) ||5–4–0–0 ||
|10||October 28, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| Minnesota Wild (2003–04) ||5–5–0–0 ||
|11||October 30, 2003||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||6–5–0–0 ||
|12||November 1, 2003||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||6–5–1–0 ||
|13||November 5, 2003||4–7 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||6–6–1–0 ||
|14||November 7, 2003||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||7–6–1–0 ||
|15||November 8, 2003||0–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||7–7–1–0 ||
|16||November 12, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||7–7–2–0 ||
|17||November 14, 2003||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||7–7–2–1 ||
|18||November 17, 2003||2–1 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||8–7–2–1 ||
|19||November 19, 2003||1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||8–8–2–1 ||
|20||November 21, 2003||5–0 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04) ||9–8–2–1 ||
|21||November 22, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||9–9–2–1 ||
|22||November 24, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||9–10–2–1 ||
|23||November 26, 2003||5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||10–10–2–1 ||
|24||November 28, 2003||4–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||11–10–2–1 ||
|25||November 29, 2003||1–4 || align="left"| @ Nashville Predators (2003–04) ||11–11–2–1 ||
|26||December 3, 2003||3–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04) ||12–11–2–1 ||
|27||December 4, 2003||2–3 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04) ||12–12–2–1 ||
|28||December 6, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||12–13–2–1 ||
|29||December 10, 2003||2–7 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (2003–04) ||12–14–2–1 ||
|30||December 12, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2003–04) ||12–15–2–1 ||
|31||December 13, 2003||2–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2003–04) ||12–16–2–1 ||
|32||December 16, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||12–17–2–1 ||
|33||December 19, 2003||2–5 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||12–18–2–1 ||
|34||December 23, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||12–18–3–1 ||
|35||December 26, 2003||3–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04) ||13–18–3–1 ||
|36||December 27, 2003||3–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||14–18–3–1 ||
|37||December 29, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04) ||14–19–3–1 ||
|38||December 31, 2003||7–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||15–19–3–1 ||
|39||January 2, 2004||5–2 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04) ||16–19–3–1 ||
|40||January 3, 2004||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||16–19–4–1 ||
|41||January 6, 2004||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||16–20–4–1 ||
|42||January 7, 2004||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||16–20–5–1 ||
|43||January 9, 2004||3–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||17–20–5–1 ||
|44||January 12, 2004||3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||17–21–5–1 ||
|45||January 13, 2004||6–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||18–21–5–1 ||
|46||January 15, 2004||0–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||18–22–5–1 ||
|47||January 17, 2004||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2003–04) ||18–23–5–1 ||
|48||January 20, 2004||1–4 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||18–24–5–1 ||
|49||January 22, 2004||3–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||19–24–5–1 ||
|50||January 24, 2004||1–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||19–25–5–1 ||
|51||January 25, 2004||4–2 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04) ||20–25–5–1 ||
|52||January 27, 2004||4–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||21–25–5–1 ||
|53||January 30, 2004||3–1 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2003–04) ||22–25–5–1 ||
|54||January 31, 2004||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2003–04) ||23–25–5–1 ||
|55||February 5, 2004||2–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||23–26–5–1 ||
|56||February 10, 2004||2–1 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2003–04) ||24–26–5–1 ||
|57||February 13, 2004||8–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (2003–04) ||25–26–5–1 ||
|58||February 14, 2004||6–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||26–26–5–1 ||
|59||February 16, 2004||7–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||27–26–5–1 ||
|60||February 18, 2004||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||27–26–6–1 ||
|61||February 20, 2004||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||28–26–6–1 ||
|62||February 21, 2004||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2003–04) ||28–27–6–1 ||
|63||February 25, 2004||2–8 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||28–28–6–1 ||
|64||February 27, 2004||2–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2003–04) ||28–29–6–1 ||
|65||February 28, 2004||1–7 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||28–30–6–1 ||
|66||March 3, 2004||4–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||29–30–6–1 ||
|67||March 6, 2004||5–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||30–30–6–1 ||
|68||March 7, 2004||1–5 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (2003–04) ||30–31–6–1 ||
|69||March 10, 2004||6–0 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||31–31–6–1 ||
|70||March 11, 2004||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||31–31–6–2 ||
|71||March 13, 2004||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||31–31–6–3 ||
|72||March 15, 2004||5–6 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||31–31–6–4 ||
|73||March 17, 2004||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||32–31–6–4 ||
|74||March 18, 2004||1–3 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||32–32–6–4 ||
|75||March 20, 2004||2–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||33–32–6–4 ||
|76||March 24, 2004||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||34–32–6–4 ||
|77||March 26, 2004||5–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||35–32–6–4 ||
|78||March 27, 2004||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||35–32–7–4 ||
|79||March 29, 2004||6–0 || align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04) ||36–32–7–4 ||
|80||March 31, 2004||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2003–04) ||37–32–7–4 ||
|81||April 2, 2004||0–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||37–33–7–4 ||
|82||April 3, 2004||3–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||37–34–7–4 ||
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 48 C 82 28 37 65 −7 70 81 LW 82 29 28 57 −15 30 17 RW 77 22 31 53 −9 40 23 C 76 18 35 53 8 68 55 LW 64 15 37 52 17 49 45 D 77 10 24 34 0 42 61 RW 73 17 14 31 −4 57 44 D 68 4 24 28 −13 102 12 RW 62 15 11 26 −1 41 37 C 68 9 12 21 2 30 24 LW 63 8 12 20 −7 25 22 C 81 6 14 20 −3 146 9 C 49 9 10 19 −8 12 16 C 54 6 6 12 −2 22 8 D 60 4 7 11 −5 44 3 D 55 4 7 11 11 12 51 D 53 3 8 11 −8 12 10 D 72 1 9 10 5 26 15 RW 23 1 8 9 1 18 25 RW 14 1 8 9 10 4 5 D 37 2 5 7 −5 29 74 D 43 2 3 5 6 41 28 LW 19 2 1 3 0 14 26 LW 44 1 2 3 −2 110 34 D 14 0 3 3 −3 19 76 LW 42 2 0 2 −3 151 43 G 52 0 2 2 10 4 D 13 0 2 2 3 12 35 G 35 1 0 1 0 33 D 4 0 0 0 0 19 30 G 3 0 0 0 0 19 RW 2 0 0 0 0 2 38 C 4 0 0 0 −1 4 29 RW 1 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending Player Regular season 43 Martin Biron 52 26 18 5 1442 125 2.52 .913 2 2971:46 35 Mika Noronen 35 11 17 2 821 77 2.57 .906 2 1796:15 30 Ryan Miller 3 0 3 0 73 15 5.06 .795 0 177:51
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL Defensive Player of the Week Martin Biron (October 27) NHL YoungStars Game selection Derek Roy
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Andrew Peters October 9, 2003 Derek Roy December 13, 2003 Jason Pominville December 27, 2003
Transactions The Sabres were involved in the following transactions from June 10, 2003, the day after the deciding game of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 7, 2004, the day of the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.
Trades Date Details Ref To Nashville Predators To Buffalo Sabres To Colorado Avalanche To Buffalo Sabres To Calgary Flames To Buffalo Sabres To Minnesota Wild To Buffalo Sabres To San Jose Sharks To Buffalo Sabres To Washington Capitals To Buffalo Sabres
Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Joel Bouchard Pittsburgh Penguins 1-year Free agency Domenic Pittis Nashville Predators 1-year Free agency David Cullen Minnesota Wild 1-year Free agency Brian Chapman Manitoba Moose (AHL) 1-year Free agency Rick Mrozik Calgary Flames 1-year Free agency Scott Ricci Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) Free agency
Players lost Date Player New team Via Ref Radoslav Hecl HC Slovan Bratislava (SVK) Free agency (UFA) , retrieved May 11, 2022 Denis Hamel Ottawa Senators Free agency (UFA) Peter Ratchuk Frankfurt Lions (DEL) Free agency (VI) , retrieved May 11, 2022 Francois Methot Washington Capitals Free agency (VI) Doug Houda Retirement (III) , retrieved May 11, 2022 Steve Begin Montreal Canadiens Waiver draft Joel Bouchard New York Rangers Waiver draft Domenic Pittis Kloten Flyers (NLA) Free agency
Signings Date Player Term Contract type Ref Brian Campbell 1-year Option exercised Rory Fitzpatrick Re-signing Jason Botterill 1-year Re-signing Chris Taylor 1-year Re-signing Steve Begin 1-year Re-signing Tim Connolly 1-year Re-signing Dmitri Kalinin 1-year Re-signing Adam Mair 3-year Re-signing Taylor Pyatt 1-year Re-signing Eric Boulton 2-year Re-signing Henrik Tallinder 1-year Re-signing Tom Askey 2-year Re-signing Andrew Peters Re-signing Curtis Brown 1-year Re-signing Ales Kotalik 1-year Re-signing Chris Drury 4-year Re-signing Norm Milley 1-year Re-signing Jay McKee multi-year Re-signing Miroslav Satan 2-year Re-signing Nathan Paetsch Entry-level
Draft picks Buffalo's draft picks at the 2003 NHL entry draft held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee.