| League: | NHL |
| Season: | 1986–87 |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | Buffalo Sabres |
| Record: | 28–44–8 |
| Homerecord: | 18–18–4 |
| Roadrecord: | 10–26–4 |
| Divisionrank: | 5th |
| Goalsleader: | Mike Foligno (30) |
| Assistsleader: | Dave Andreychuk (48) |
| Pointsleader: | Dave Andreychuk (73) |
| Plusminusleader: | Mike Foligno (13) |
| Pimleader: | Steve Dykstra (179) |
| Winsleader: | Tom Barrasso (17) |
| Gaaleader: | Tom Barrasso (3.34) |
The 1986–87 Buffalo Sabres season was the 17th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1]
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L | October 9, 1986 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 0–1–0 | |
| 2 | T | October 11, 1986 | 5–5 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 0–1–1 | |
| 3 | L | October 12, 1986 | 2–4 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 0–2–1 | |
| 4 | T | October 15, 1986 | 0–0 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 0–2–2 | |
| 5 | L | October 17, 1986 | 3–7 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 0–3–2 | |
| 6 | W | October 18, 1986 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 1–3–2 | |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1986 | 4–5 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 1–4–2 | |
| 8 | L | October 24, 1986 | 4–5 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 1–5–2 | |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1986 | 2–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 1–6–2 | |
| 10 | L | October 29, 1986 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 1–7–2 | |
| 11 | W | November 1, 1986 | 3–1 | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 2–7–2 | |
| 12 | W | November 2, 1986 | 7–1 | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 3–7–2 | |
| 13 | W | November 5, 1986 | 8–3 | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 4–7–2 | |
| 14 | L | November 7, 1986 | 6–7 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 4–8–2 | |
| 15 | L | November 9, 1986 | 3–4 | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 4–9–2 | |
| 16 | L | November 12, 1986 | 1–2 OT | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 4–10–2 | |
| 17 | L | November 15, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 4–11–2 | |
| 18 | T | November 19, 1986 | 4–4 OT | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 4–11–3 | |
| 19 | L | November 21, 1986 | 1–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 4–12–3 | |
| 20 | L | November 22, 1986 | 1–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 4–13–3 | |
| 21 | L | November 26, 1986 | 0–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 4–14–3 | |
| 22 | W | November 28, 1986 | 4–3 | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 5–14–3 | |
| 23 | L | November 29, 1986 | 2–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 5–15–3 | |
| 24 | L | December 2, 1986 | 4–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 5–16–3 | |
| 25 | L | December 5, 1986 | 5–6 | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 5–17–3 | |
| 26 | L | December 6, 1986 | 3–4 | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 5–18–3 | |
| 27 | T | December 9, 1986 | 5–5 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 5–18–4 | |
| 28 | L | December 10, 1986 | 3–6 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 5–19–4 | |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1986 | 0–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 5–20–4 | |
| 30 | W | December 14, 1986 | 4–3 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 6–20–4 | |
| 31 | L | December 17, 1986 | 3–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 6–21–4 | |
| 32 | W | December 19, 1986 | 3–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 7–21–4 | |
| 33 | L | December 20, 1986 | 4–5 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 7–22–4 | |
| 34 | W | December 23, 1986 | 2–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 8–22–4 | |
| 35 | T | December 26, 1986 | 3–3 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 8–22–5 | |
| 36 | L | December 28, 1986 | 1–4 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 8–23–5 | |
| 37 | W | December 31, 1986 | 5–2 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 9–23–5 | |
| 38 | L | January 2, 1987 | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 9–24–5 | |
| 39 | W | January 4, 1987 | 7–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 10–24–5 | |
| 40 | W | January 7, 1987 | 4–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 11–24–5 | |
| 41 | L | January 8, 1987 | 4–5 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 11–25–5 | |
| 42 | W | January 10, 1987 | 8–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 12–25–5 | |
| 43 | T | January 14, 1987 | 3–3 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 12–25–6 | |
| 44 | L | January 17, 1987 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 12–26–6 | |
| 45 | W | January 18, 1987 | 6–5 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 13–26–6 | |
| 46 | L | January 20, 1987 | 0–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 13–27–6 | |
| 47 | L | January 23, 1987 | 2–3 | Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 13–28–6 | |
| 48 | W | January 24, 1987 | 6–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 14–28–6 | |
| 49 | L | January 26, 1987 | 2–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 14–29–6 | |
| 50 | L | January 28, 1987 | 4–7 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 14–30–6 | |
| 51 | W | January 30, 1987 | 3–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 15–30–6 | |
| 52 | W | February 1, 1987 | 6–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 16–30–6 | |
| 53 | W | February 4, 1987 | 3–1 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 17–30–6 | |
| 54 | L | February 7, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 17–31–6 | |
| 55 | W | February 8, 1987 | 7–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 18–31–6 | |
| 56 | W | February 14, 1987 | 5–1 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 19–31–6 | |
| 57 | W | February 18, 1987 | 4–3 | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 20–31–6 | |
| 58 | W | February 20, 1987 | 6–3 | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 21–31–6 | |
| 59 | W | February 22, 1987 | 5–3 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 22–31–6 | |
| 60 | L | February 24, 1987 | 3–6 | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 22–32–6 | |
| 61 | W | February 26, 1987 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 23–32–6 | |
| 62 | L | February 28, 1987 | 1–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 23–33–6 | |
| 63 | L | March 1, 1987 | 2–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 23–34–6 | |
| 64 | L | March 3, 1987 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 23–35–6 | |
| 65 | W | March 5, 1987 | 6–4 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 24–35–6 | |
| 66 | T | March 7, 1987 | 5–5 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 24–35–7 | |
| 67 | W | March 8, 1987 | 5–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 25–35–7 | |
| 68 | W | March 11, 1987 | 3–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 26–35–7 | |
| 69 | L | March 13, 1987 | 4–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) | 26–36–7 | |
| 70 | L | March 14, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 26–37–7 | |
| 71 | L | March 17, 1987 | 2–6 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 26–38–7 | |
| 72 | L | March 20, 1987 | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 26–39–7 | |
| 73 | W | March 22, 1987 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 27–39–7 | |
| 74 | L | March 24, 1987 | 5–6 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 27–40–7 | |
| 75 | L | March 26, 1987 | 3–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 27–41–7 | |
| 76 | L | March 28, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 27–42–7 | |
| 77 | L | March 29, 1987 | 2–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 27–43–7 | |
| 78 | L | April 2, 1987 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 27–44–7 | |
| 79 | T | April 4, 1987 | 6–6 OT | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 27–44–8 | |
| 80 | W | April 5, 1987 | 6–0 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 28–44–8 |
The Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Buffalo's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Shawn Anderson | Canadian National Development Team | ||
| 2 | 26 | Greg Brown | St. Mark's School (ISL) | ||
| 3 | 47 | Bob Corkum | University of Maine (Hockey East) | ||
| 3 | 56 | Kevin Kerr | Windsor Compuware Spitfires (OHL) | ||
| 4 | 68 | David Baseggio | Yale University (ECAC) | ||
| 5 | 89 | Larry Rooney | Thayer Academy (ISL) | ||
| 6 | 110 | Miguel Baldris | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) | ||
| 7 | 131 | Mike Hartman | North Bay Centennials (OHL) | ||
| 8 | 152 | Francois Guay | Laval Titan (QMJHL) | ||
| 9 | 173 | Sean Whitham | Providence College (Hockey East) | ||
| 10 | 194 | Kenton Rein | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) | ||
| 11 | 215 | Troy Arndt | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) | ||
| S1 | 4 | Jeff Capello | University of Vermont (Hockey East) | ||
| S2 | 8 | John Cullen | Boston University (Hockey East) |