| League: | NHL |
| Season: | 1981–82 |
| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Buffalo Sabres |
| Conferencerank: | 4th |
| Divisionrank: | 3rd |
| Record: | 39–26–15 |
| Homerecord: | 23–8–9 |
| Roadrecord: | 16–18–6 |
| Goalsfor: | 307 |
| Goalsagainst: | 273 |
| Coach: | Jim Roberts Scotty Bowman |
| Captain: | Danny Gare (Oct–Nov) Gilbert Perreault (Nov–Apr) |
| Altcaptain: | None |
| Attendance: | 15,585 |
| Goalsleader: | Gilbert Perreault (31) |
| Assistsleader: | John Van Boxmeer (54) |
| Pointsleader: | Gilbert Perreault (73) |
| Pimleader: | Larry Playfair (258) |
| Winsleader: | Don Edwards (26) |
| Gaaleader: | Jacques Cloutier (2.51) |
The 1981–82 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 12th season of operation for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1]
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W | October 7, 1981 | 5–3 | Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 1–0–0 | |
| 2 | L | October 10, 1981 | 0–9 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 1–1–0 | |
| 3 | T | October 11, 1981 | 2–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 1–1–1 | |
| 4 | W | October 14, 1981 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 2–1–1 | |
| 5 | W | October 17, 1981 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 3–1–1 | |
| 6 | T | October 18, 1981 | 3–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 3–1–2 | |
| 7 | T | October 21, 1981 | 2–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 3–1–3 | |
| 8 | W | October 23, 1981 | 6–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 4–1–3 | |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1981 | 3–6 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 4–2–3 | |
| 10 | W | October 28, 1981 | 6–2 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 5–2–3 | |
| 11 | L | October 31, 1981 | 1–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 5–3–3 | |
| 12 | W | November 1, 1981 | 6–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 6–3–3 | |
| 13 | T | November 4, 1981 | 3–3 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 6–3–4 | |
| 14 | W | November 7, 1981 | 6–2 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 7–3–4 | |
| 15 | T | November 8, 1981 | 2–2 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 7–3–5 | |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1981 | 3–7 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 7–4–5 | |
| 17 | T | November 13, 1981 | 3–3 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 7–4–6 | |
| 18 | W | November 15, 1981 | 3–1 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 8–4–6 | |
| 19 | L | November 18, 1981 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 8–5–6 | |
| 20 | W | November 20, 1981 | 4–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 9–5–6 | |
| 21 | W | November 21, 1981 | 7–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 10–5–6 | |
| 22 | W | November 25, 1981 | 3–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 11–5–6 | |
| 23 | T | November 28, 1981 | 4–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 11–5–7 | |
| 24 | W | November 29, 1981 | 5–2 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 12–5–7 | |
| 25 | L | December 3, 1981 | 3–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 12–6–7 | |
| 26 | W | December 4, 1981 | 4–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 13–6–7 | |
| 27 | W | December 6, 1981 | 7–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 14–6–7 | |
| 28 | W | December 9, 1981 | 7–1 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 15–6–7 | |
| 29 | W | December 12, 1981 | 4–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 16–6–7 | |
| 30 | T | December 13, 1981 | 4–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 16–6–8 | |
| 31 | L | December 15, 1981 | 3–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 16–7–8 | |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1981 | 1–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 16–8–8 | |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1981 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 16–9–8 | |
| 34 | W | December 20, 1981 | 8–2 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 17–9–8 | |
| 35 | L | December 22, 1981 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 17–10–8 | |
| 36 | W | December 26, 1981 | 7–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 18–10–8 | |
| 37 | W | December 27, 1981 | 3–2 | Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 19–10–8 | |
| 38 | W | December 31, 1981 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 20–10–8 | |
| 39 | L | January 2, 1982 | 3–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 20–11–8 | |
| 40 | W | January 3, 1982 | 3–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 21–11–8 | |
| 41 | W | January 6, 1982 | 5–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1981–82) | 22–11–8 | |
| 42 | W | January 9, 1982 | 3–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 23–11–8 | |
| 43 | W | January 10, 1982 | 6–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 24–11–8 | |
| 44 | W | January 13, 1982 | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 25–11–8 | |
| 45 | W | January 15, 1982 | 8–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 26–11–8 | |
| 46 | W | January 17, 1982 | 7–1 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 27–11–8 | |
| 47 | T | January 19, 1982 | 2–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 27–11–9 | |
| 48 | W | January 22, 1982 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 28–11–9 | |
| 49 | W | January 23, 1982 | 3–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 29–11–9 | |
| 50 | L | January 27, 1982 | 3–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 29–12–9 | |
| 51 | L | January 29, 1982 | 1–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 29–13–9 | |
| 52 | L | January 30, 1982 | 2–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 29–14–9 | |
| 53 | L | February 3, 1982 | 2–5 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 29–15–9 | |
| 54 | L | February 4, 1982 | 2–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 29–16–9 | |
| 55 | L | February 7, 1982 | 3–7 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 29–17–9 | |
| 56 | W | February 10, 1982 | 4–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 30–17–9 | |
| 57 | L | February 11, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 30–18–9 | |
| 58 | W | February 16, 1982 | 2–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 31–18–9 | |
| 59 | W | February 17, 1982 | 3–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 32–18–9 | |
| 60 | T | February 20, 1982 | 2–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 32–18–10 | |
| 61 | W | February 21, 1982 | 6–2 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 33–18–10 | |
| 62 | L | February 24, 1982 | 3–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 33–19–10 | |
| 63 | T | February 26, 1982 | 4–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 33–19–11 | |
| 64 | T | February 27, 1982 | 5–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 33–19–12 | |
| 65 | T | March 3, 1982 | 3–3 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 33–19–13 | |
| 66 | T | March 6, 1982 | 2–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 33–19–14 | |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1982 | 3–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 33–20–14 | |
| 68 | W | March 10, 1982 | 7–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 34–20–14 | |
| 69 | W | March 12, 1982 | 3–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 35–20–14 | |
| 70 | L | March 13, 1982 | 1–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 35–21–14 | |
| 71 | T | March 16, 1982 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 35–21–15 | |
| 72 | L | March 18, 1982 | 1–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 35–22–15 | |
| 73 | L | March 20, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 35–23–15 | |
| 74 | W | March 21, 1982 | 5–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 36–23–15 | |
| 75 | L | March 25, 1982 | 1–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 36–24–15 | |
| 76 | L | March 26, 1982 | 5–8 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 36–25–15 | |
| 77 | W | March 28, 1982 | 9–5 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 37–25–15 | |
| 78 | W | March 30, 1982 | 6–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 38–25–15 | |
| 79 | W | April 3, 1982 | 5–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 39–25–15 | |
| 80 | L | April 4, 1982 | 4–7 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 39–26–15 |
The Sabres lost to the Boston Bruins three games to one, in the Adams Division semi-finals.
Buffalo's draft picks at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Jiri Dudacek | HC Kladno (Czechoslovakia) | ||
| 2 | 38 | Hannu Virta | TPS (Finland) | ||
| 3 | 59 | Jim Aldred | Kingston Canadiens (OMJHL) | ||
| 3 | 60 | Colin Chisholm | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) | ||
| 4 | 80 | Jeff Eatough | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) | ||
| 4 | 83 | Anders Wikberg | Timra IK (Sweden) | ||
| 5 | 101 | Mauri Eivola | TPS (Finland) | ||
| 6 | 122 | Ali Butorac | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) | ||
| 7 | 143 | Heikki Leime | TPS (Finland) | ||
| 8 | 164 | Gates Orlando | Providence College (ECAC) | ||
| 9 | 185 | Venci Sebek | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) | ||
| 10 | 206 | Warren Harper | Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) |