The 1996–97

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

was the 27th for the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The season was the first season in the newly constructed

Marine Midland Arena KeyBank Center is a multipurpose indoor arena located in Buffalo, New York, United States. Originally known as Marine Midland Arena, the venue has since been named HSBC Arena and First Niagara Center. Home to the Buffalo Sabres of the Nation ...

. The Sabres also underwent a drastic uniform change, replacing the blue and gold colors and classic crest with a black and red color scheme and new white buffalo-head logo. The Sabres won their first Northeast Division title, their first division title in 16 years.

Off-season

Regular season

On January 12, 1997, Jason Dawe scored just ten seconds into the overtime period to give the Sabres a 3–2 road win over the

Phoenix Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...

. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1996–97 NHL regular season. The Sabres allowed the fewest shorthanded goals (4) and scored the most shorthanded goals (16) in the NHL. The Sabres' power play struggled, as they finished 26th in power-play percentage, with 13.19% (43 for 326). The Sabres were also shut out a league-high 10 times during the regular season.

Season standings

Playoffs

The Sabres defeated the

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

in the first round. The series was played to overtime in Game 7.

Derek Plante Derek John Plante (born January 17, 1971) is an American ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. Plante played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks and Phi ...

scored the series clinching goal in overtime. The Sabres then lost to the

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

in five games in the second round.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1, , October 4, 1996, , 3–4 , , style="text-align:left;", @

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1996–97) , , 0–1–0 , , , - , 2, , October 6, 1996, , 0–3 , , style="text-align:left;", @

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...

( 1996–97) , , 0–2–0 , , , - , 3, , October 9, 1996, , 2–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–2–0 , , , - , 4, , October 12, 1996, , 1–6 , , style="text-align:left;",

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–3–0 , , , - , 5, , October 15, 1996, , 0–4 , , style="text-align:left;",

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...

( 1996–97) , , 1–4–0 , , , - , 6, , October 17, 1996, , 4–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1996–97) , , 2–4–0 , , , - , 7, , October 18, 1996, , 4–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1996–97) , , 3–4–0 , , , - , 8, , October 24, 1996, , 6–3 , , style="text-align:left;",

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1996–97) , , 4–4–0 , , , - , 9, , October 26, 1996, , 6–3 , , style="text-align:left;",

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

( 1996–97) , , 5–4–0 , , , - , 10, , October 27, 1996, , 4–6 , , style="text-align:left;", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1996–97) , , 5–5–0 , , , - , 11, , October 30, 1996, , 0–2 , , style="text-align:left;", @

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...

( 1996–97) , , 5–6–0 , , , - , - , 12, , November 1, 1996, , 4–2 , , style="text-align:left;", @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1996–97) , , 6–6–0 , , , - , 13, , November 2, 1996, , 0–0 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...

( 1996–97) , , 6–6–1 , , , - , 14, , November 7, 1996, , 2–5 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 6–7–1 , , , - , 15, , November 9, 1996, , 3–4 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 6–8–1 , , , - , 16, , November 11, 1996, , 3–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

( 1996–97) , , 7–8–1 , , , - , 17, , November 12, 1996, , 0–3 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 7–9–1 , , , - , 18, , November 14, 1996, , 5–4 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 8–9–1 , , , - , 19, , November 19, 1996, , 3–4 , , style="text-align:left;", @

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1996–97) , , 8–10–1 , , , - , 20, , November 21, 1996, , 6–3 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 9–10–1 , , , - , 21, , November 23, 1996, , 3–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1996–97) , , 10–10–1 , , , - , 22, , November 26, 1996, , 3–4 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 10–11–1 , , , - , 23, , November 27, 1996, , 3–0 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 11–11–1 , , , - , 24, , November 29, 1996, , 3–0 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 12–11–1 , , , - , 25, , November 30, 1996, , 3–2 , , style="text-align:left;", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1996–97) , , 13–11–1 , , , - , - , 26, , December 4, 1996, , 6–7 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 13–12–1 , , , - , 27, , December 6, 1996, , 1–1 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: Businesses *Mighty Audio, an American company known for its product ''Mighty'', a portable audio player *Mighty Animation, an animation studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico Films *''The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy–drama * ''The ...

( 1996–97) , , 13–12–2 , , , - , 28, , December 7, 1996, , 4–6 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 13–13–2 , , , - , 29, , December 11, 1996, , 3–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 14–13–2 , , , - , 30, , December 13, 1996, , 0–3 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 14–14–2 , , , - , 31, , December 14, 1996, , 4–0 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 15–14–2 , , , - , 32, , December 18, 1996, , 5–3 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 16–14–2 , , , - , 33, , December 20, 1996, , 6–2 , , style="text-align:left;",

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1996–97) , , 17–14–2 , , , - , 34, , December 21, 1996, , 3–2 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 18–14–2 , , , - , 35, , December 23, 1996, , 0–0 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 1996–97) , , 18–14–3 , , , - , 36, , December 26, 1996, , 5–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 19–14–3 , , , - , 37, , December 28, 1996, , 0–2 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 19–15–3 , , , - , 38, , December 31, 1996, , 6–5 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 20–15–3 , , , - , - , 39, , January 3, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 20–15–4 , , , - , 40, , January 5, 1997, , 5–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 21–15–4 , , , - , 41, , January 7, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

( 1996–97) , , 21–15–5 , , , - , 42, , January 9, 1997, , 3–6 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–16–5 , , , - , 43, , January 10, 1997, , 2–5 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 21–17–5 , , , - , 44, , January 12, 1997, , 3–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 22–17–5 , , , - , 45, , January 15, 1997, , 2–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 23–17–5 , , , - , 46, , January 20, 1997, , 2–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...

( 1996–97) , , 24–17–5 , , , - , 47, , January 22, 1997, , 6–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 25–17–5 , , , - , 48, , January 24, 1997, , 1–3 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 25–18–5 , , , - , 49, , January 25, 1997, , 1–5 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 25–19–5 , , , - , 50, , January 29, 1997, , 3–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 26–19–5 , , , - , 51, , January 31, 1997, , 3–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 27–19–5 , , , - , - , 52, , February 2, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 27–19–6 , , , - , 53, , February 4, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 27–19–7 , , , - , 54, , February 6, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 27–19–8 , , , - , 55, , February 8, 1997, , 3–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 28–19–8 , , , - , 56, , February 9, 1997, , 2–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 29–19–8 , , , - , 57, , February 12, 1997, , 2–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 29–19–9 , , , - , 58, , February 16, 1997, , 6–2 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 30–19–9 , , , - , 59, , February 18, 1997, , 5–5 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 30–19–10 , , , - , 60, , February 21, 1997, , 5–2 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 31–19–10 , , , - , 61, , February 23, 1997, , 5–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 32–19–10 , , , - , 62, , February 27, 1997, , 1–4 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 32–20–10 , , , - , - , 63, , March 1, 1997, , 3–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 33–20–10 , , , - , 64, , March 5, 1997, , 4–2 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 34–20–10 , , , - , 65, , March 8, 1997, , 3–3 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 34–20–11 , , , - , 66, , March 9, 1997, , 1–4 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 34–21–11 , , , - , 67, , March 11, 1997, , 3–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 35–21–11 , , , - , 68, , March 15, 1997, , 7–5 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 36–21–11 , , , - , 69, , March 17, 1997, , 5–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 37–21–11 , , , - , 70, , March 18, 1997, , 3–5 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 37–22–11 , , , - , 71, , March 21, 1997, , 4–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 38–22–11 , , , - , 72, , March 22, 1997, , 2–3 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 38–23–11 , , , - , 73, , March 26, 1997, , 2–3 OT, , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 38–24–11 , , , - , 74, , March 28, 1997, , 1–2 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 38–25–11 , , , - , 75, , March 30, 1997, , 2–3 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 38–26–11 , , , - , - , 76, , April 1, 1997, , 1–1 OT, , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 38–26–12 , , , - , 77, , April 2, 1997, , 0–2 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 38–27–12 , , , - , 78, , April 4, 1997, , 5–1 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 39–27–12 , , , - , 79, , April 7, 1997, , 2–4 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 39–28–12 , , , - , 80, , April 10, 1997, , 5–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 40–28–12 , , , - , 81, , April 12, 1997, , 0–1 , , style="text-align:left;", @

( 1996–97) , , 40–29–12 , , , - , 82, , April 13, 1997, , 3–8 , , style="text-align:left;",

( 1996–97) , , 40–30–12 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 17, 1997 , , 3–1 , , align="left",

, , Sabres lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 19, 1997 , , 1–3 , , align="left", Ottawa Senators , , Series tied 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , April 21, 1997 , , 3–2 , , align="left", @ Ottawa Senators , , Sabres lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , April 23, 1997 , , 0–1 OT, , align="left", @ Ottawa Senators , , Series tied 2–2 , , , - , 5 , , April 25, 1997 , , 1–4 , , align="left", Ottawa Senators , , Senators lead 3–2 , , , - , 6 , , April 27, 1997 , , 3–0 , , align="left", @ Ottawa Senators , , Series tied 3–3 , , , - , 7 , , April 29, 1997 , , 3–2 OT, , align="left", Ottawa Senators , , Sabres win 4–3 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 3, 1997 , , 3–5 , , align="left",

, , Flyers lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 5, 1997 , , 1–2 , , align="left", Philadelphia Flyers , , Flyers lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , May 7, 1997 , , 1–4 , , align="left", @ Philadelphia Flyers , , Flyers lead 3–0 , , , - , 4 , , May 9, 1997 , , 5–4 OT, , align="left", @ Philadelphia Flyers , , Flyers lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , May 11, 1997 , , 3–6 , , align="left", Philadelphia Flyers , , Flyers win 4–1 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C =

Center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

; D =

Defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...

; LW =

Left wing Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politic ...

; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics is the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position b ...

'' * '' = 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.''

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the

Kiel Center The Enterprise Center is an 18,096-seat arena located in Downtown St. Louis, downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Its primary tenant is the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, but it is also used for other functions, such as ...

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Buffalo Sabres season, 1996-97 1996-97 Buffalo Sabres season 1996–97 NHL season by team 1996 in sports in New York (state) 1997 in sports in New York (state)