The 1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season was the 16th

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 ...

for the franchise in 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 ...

(NHL). It saw the Sabres finish in last place in the

Adams Division The National Hockey League's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honour of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins. It is th ...

with a record of 37 wins, 37 losses, and 6 ties for 80 points. They missed the

Stanley Cup playoffs The Stanley Cup playoffs () is the annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, and the league champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the NHL's regular s ...

for the first time since 1974.

Offseason

Regular season

Divisional standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 10, 1985, , 4–5 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , W, , October 12, 1985, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1985–86) , , 1–1–0 , - , 3, , W, , October 14, 1985, , 6–1 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 2–1–0 , - , 4, , W, , October 16, 1985, , 6–0 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 3–1–0 , - , 5, , L, , October 18, 1985, , 1–4 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 3–2–0 , - , 6, , T, , October 19, 1985, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 3–2–1 , - , 7, , L, , October 23, 1985, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 3–3–1 , - , 8, , W, , October 25, 1985, , 5–4 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 4–3–1 , - , 9, , W, , October 27, 1985, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 5–3–1 , - , 10, , L, , October 30, 1985, , 2–4 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 5–4–1 , - , - , 11, , W, , November 1, 1985, , 2–0 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 6–4–1 , - , 12, , L, , November 2, 1985, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 6–5–1 , - , 13, , W, , November 6, 1985, , 7–3 , , align="left",

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets 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 te ...

( 1985–86) , , 7–5–1 , - , 14, , W, , November 8, 1985, , 5–4 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 8–5–1 , - , 15, , W, , November 10, 1985, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 9–5–1 , - , 16, , W, , November 13, 1985, , 6–4 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 10–5–1 , - , 17, , L, , November 16, 1985, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

( 1985–86) , , 10–6–1 , - , 18, , L, , November 17, 1985, , 3–5 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 10–7–1 , - , 19, , W, , November 19, 1985, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 11–7–1 , - , 20, , W, , November 22, 1985, , 7–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 12–7–1 , - , 21, , L, , November 25, 1985, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 12–8–1 , - , 22, , L, , November 27, 1985, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 12–9–1 , - , 23, , L, , November 29, 1985, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 12–10–1 , - , 24, , L, , November 30, 1985, , 2–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 12–11–1 , - , - , 25, , W, , December 4, 1985, , 6–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 13–11–1 , - , 26, , L, , December 6, 1985, , 1–3 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 13–12–1 , - , 27, , T, , December 8, 1985, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 13–12–2 , - , 28, , L, , December 10, 1985, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 13–13–2 , - , 29, , L, , December 13, 1985, , 4–6 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 13–14–2 , - , 30, , W, , December 15, 1985, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 14–14–2 , - , 31, , L, , December 17, 1985, , 3–7 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 14–15–2 , - , 32, , W, , December 18, 1985, , 5–4 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 15–15–2 , - , 33, , L, , December 21, 1985, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 15–16–2 , - , 34, , W, , December 22, 1985, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 16–16–2 , - , 35, , W, , December 26, 1985, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 17–16–2 , - , 36, , W, , December 29, 1985, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 18–16–2 , - , 37, , T, , December 31, 1985, , 6–6 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 18–16–3 , - , - , 38, , T, , January 2, 1986, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 18–16–4 , - , 39, , L, , January 4, 1986, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 18–17–4 , - , 40, , L, , January 5, 1986, , 2–3 , , 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. ...

( 1985–86) , , 18–18–4 , - , 41, , W, , January 10, 1986, , 9–7 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 19–18–4 , - , 42, , T, , January 11, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 19–18–5 , - , 43, , L, , January 15, 1986, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1985–86) , , 19–19–5 , - , 44, , W, , January 17, 1986, , 5–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 20–19–5 , - , 45, , W, , January 19, 1986, , 6–3 , , 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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 21–19–5 , - , 46, , W, , January 22, 1986, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 22–19–5 , - , 47, , L, , January 24, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 22–20–5 , - , 48, , L, , January 25, 1986, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 22–21–5 , - , 49, , L, , January 27, 1986, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 22–22–5 , - , 50, , L, , January 29, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 22–23–5 , - , 51, , W, , January 31, 1986, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 23–23–5 , - , - , 52, , W, , February 2, 1986, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 24–23–5 , - , 53, , W, , February 6, 1986, , 8–6 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 25–23–5 , - , 54, , W, , February 8, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 26–23–5 , - , 55, , W, , February 9, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 27–23–5 , - , 56, , L, , February 12, 1986, , 0–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1985–86) , , 27–24–5 , - , 57, , T, , February 14, 1986, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 27–24–6 , - , 58, , L, , February 16, 1986, , 5–7 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 27–25–6 , - , 59, , L, , February 19, 1986, , 4–6 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 27–26–6 , - , 60, , W, , February 21, 1986, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 28–26–6 , - , 61, , W, , February 23, 1986, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 29–26–6 , - , 62, , L, , February 26, 1986, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 29–27–6 , - , 63, , L, , February 28, 1986, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 29–28–6 , - , - , 64, , W, , March 1, 1986, , 8–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 30–28–6 , - , 65, , W, , March 4, 1986, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 31–28–6 , - , 66, , L, , March 5, 1986, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 31–29–6 , - , 67, , L, , March 7, 1986, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 31–30–6 , - , 68, , W, , March 9, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 32–30–6 , - , 69, , L, , March 11, 1986, , 2–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 32–31–6 , - , 70, , W, , March 12, 1986, , 7–6 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 33–31–6 , - , 71, , L, , March 15, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 33–32–6 , - , 72, , W, , March 19, 1986, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 34–32–6 , - , 73, , L, , March 21, 1986, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 34–33–6 , - , 74, , W, , March 23, 1986, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 35–33–6 , - , 75, , W, , March 27, 1986, , 1–0 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 36–33–6 , - , 76, , L, , March 29, 1986, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 36–34–6 , - , 77, , L, , March 30, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 36–35–6 , - , - , 78, , L, , April 1, 1986, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 36–36–6 , - , 79, , W, , April 4, 1986, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1985–86) , , 37–36–6 , - , 80, , L, , April 5, 1986, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1985–86) , , 37–37–6 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Skaters

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes''

Goaltenders

''Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average''

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

Buffalo's picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft.

References

Sabres on Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1985-86 Buffalo Sabres season Buffalo Sabres seasons

Buffalo Buffalo most commonly refers to: * True buffalo or Bubalina, a subtribe of wild cattle, including most "Old World" buffalo, such as water buffalo * Bison, a genus of wild cattle, including the American buffalo * Buffalo, New York, a city in the n ...