The 2003–04

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 34th season of operation 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 Sabres failed to qualify for the

playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

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 The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...

. 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 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 ...

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 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 0–1–0–0 , , , - , 2, , October 11, 2003, , 0–6 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 0–2–0–0 , , , - , 3, , October 13, 2003, , 4–3 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 1–2–0–0 , , , - , 4, , October 16, 2003, , 1–4 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 1–3–0–0 , , , - , 5, , October 18, 2003, , 2–0 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 2–3–0–0 , , , - , 6, , October 20, 2003, , 1–6 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 2–4–0–0 , , , - , 7, , October 23, 2003, , 5–1 , , 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. ...

( 2003–04) , , 3–4–0–0 , , , - , 8, , October 24, 2003, , 5–2 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 4–4–0–0 , , , - , 9, , October 26, 2003, , 3–1 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 5–4–0–0 , , , - , 10, , October 28, 2003, , 1–3 , , align="left",

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...

( 2003–04) , , 5–5–0–0 , , , - , 11, , October 30, 2003, , 5–3 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 6–5–0–0 , , , - , - , 12, , November 1, 2003, , 1–1 OT, , align="left", @

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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 6–5–1–0 , , , - , 13, , November 5, 2003, , 4–7 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 6–6–1–0 , , , - , 14, , November 7, 2003, , 2–1 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 7–6–1–0 , , , - , 15, , November 8, 2003, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 7–7–1–0 , , , - , 16, , November 12, 2003, , 2–2 OT, , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 7–7–2–0 , , , - , 17, , November 14, 2003, , 1–2 OT, , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 7–7–2–1 , , , - , 18, , November 17, 2003, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 8–7–2–1 , , , - , 19, , November 19, 2003, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 8–8–2–1 , , , - , 20, , November 21, 2003, , 5–0 , , align="left",

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

( 2003–04) , , 9–8–2–1 , , , - , 21, , November 22, 2003, , 1–2 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 9–9–2–1 , , , - , 22, , November 24, 2003, , 1–2 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 9–10–2–1 , , , - , 23, , November 26, 2003, , 5–2 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 10–10–2–1 , , , - , 24, , November 28, 2003, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 11–10–2–1 , , , - , 25, , November 29, 2003, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...

( 2003–04) , , 11–11–2–1 , , , - , - , 26, , December 3, 2003, , 3–2 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 12–11–2–1 , , , - , 27, , December 4, 2003, , 2–3 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 12–12–2–1 , , , - , 28, , December 6, 2003, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 12–13–2–1 , , , - , 29, , December 10, 2003, , 2–7 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 12–14–2–1 , , , - , 30, , December 12, 2003, , 1–3 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 12–15–2–1 , , , - , 31, , December 13, 2003, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 12–16–2–1 , , , - , 32, , December 16, 2003, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 12–17–2–1 , , , - , 33, , December 19, 2003, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 12–18–2–1 , , , - , 34, , December 23, 2003, , 2–2 OT, , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 12–18–3–1 , , , - , 35, , December 26, 2003, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 13–18–3–1 , , , - , 36, , December 27, 2003, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 14–18–3–1 , , , - , 37, , December 29, 2003, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 14–19–3–1 , , , - , 38, , December 31, 2003, , 7–1 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 15–19–3–1 , , , - , - , 39, , January 2, 2004, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 16–19–3–1 , , , - , 40, , January 3, 2004, , 3–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 16–19–4–1 , , , - , 41, , January 6, 2004, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 16–20–4–1 , , , - , 42, , January 7, 2004, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 16–20–5–1 , , , - , 43, , January 9, 2004, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 17–20–5–1 , , , - , 44, , January 12, 2004, , 3–4 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 17–21–5–1 , , , - , 45, , January 13, 2004, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 18–21–5–1 , , , - , 46, , January 15, 2004, , 0–1 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 18–22–5–1 , , , - , 47, , January 17, 2004, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 18–23–5–1 , , , - , 48, , January 20, 2004, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 18–24–5–1 , , , - , 49, , January 22, 2004, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 19–24–5–1 , , , - , 50, , January 24, 2004, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 19–25–5–1 , , , - , 51, , January 25, 2004, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 20–25–5–1 , , , - , 52, , January 27, 2004, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 21–25–5–1 , , , - , 53, , January 30, 2004, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 22–25–5–1 , , , - , 54, , January 31, 2004, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 23–25–5–1 , , , - , - , 55, , February 5, 2004, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 23–26–5–1 , , , - , 56, , February 10, 2004, , 2–1 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 24–26–5–1 , , , - , 57, , February 13, 2004, , 8–3 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 25–26–5–1 , , , - , 58, , February 14, 2004, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 26–26–5–1 , , , - , 59, , February 16, 2004, , 7–2 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 27–26–5–1 , , , - , 60, , February 18, 2004, , 1–1 OT, , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 27–26–6–1 , , , - , 61, , February 20, 2004, , 4–3 OT, , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 28–26–6–1 , , , - , 62, , February 21, 2004, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 28–27–6–1 , , , - , 63, , February 25, 2004, , 2–8 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 28–28–6–1 , , , - , 64, , February 27, 2004, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 28–29–6–1 , , , - , 65, , February 28, 2004, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 28–30–6–1 , , , - , - , 66, , March 3, 2004, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 29–30–6–1 , , , - , 67, , March 6, 2004, , 5–1 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 30–30–6–1 , , , - , 68, , March 7, 2004, , 1–5 , , 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 ...

( 2003–04) , , 30–31–6–1 , , , - , 69, , March 10, 2004, , 6–0 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 31–31–6–1 , , , - , 70, , March 11, 2004, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 31–31–6–2 , , , - , 71, , March 13, 2004, , 2–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 31–31–6–3 , , , - , 72, , March 15, 2004, , 5–6 OT, , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 31–31–6–4 , , , - , 73, , March 17, 2004, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 32–31–6–4 , , , - , 74, , March 18, 2004, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 32–32–6–4 , , , - , 75, , March 20, 2004, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 33–32–6–4 , , , - , 76, , March 24, 2004, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 34–32–6–4 , , , - , 77, , March 26, 2004, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 35–32–6–4 , , , - , 78, , March 27, 2004, , 2–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 35–32–7–4 , , , - , 79, , March 29, 2004, , 6–0 , , align="left",

Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...

( 2003–04) , , 36–32–7–4 , , , - , 80, , March 31, 2004, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 37–32–7–4 , , , - , - , 81, , April 2, 2004, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 2003–04) , , 37–33–7–4 , , , - , 82, , April 3, 2004, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 2003–04) , , 37–34–7–4 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C = Center; 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

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 The 2003 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2002–03 season, and the culmination of the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs. The second-seeded Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Devils defeated th ...

, through June 7, 2004, the day of the deciding game of the

2004 Stanley Cup Finals The 2004 Stanley Cup Finals was the Stanley Cup Finals, championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2003–04 NHL season, 2003–04 season, and the culmination of the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference (NHL), Easter ...

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 2003 NHL entry draft held at the

Gaylord Entertainment Center Bridgestone Arena (originally Nashville Arena, and formerly Gaylord Entertainment Center and Sommet Center) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Completed in 1996, it is the home of the Nashville Predat ...

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:2003-04 Buffalo Sabres season Buff Buffalo Sabres seasons Buffalo Buffalo