1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1996–97
Year:	1996
Team:	Buffalo Sabres
Conference:	Eastern
Conferencerank:	2nd
Division:	Northeast
Divisionrank:	1st
Record:	40–30–12
Homerecord:	24–11–6
Roadrecord:	16–19–6
Goalsfor:	237
Goalsagainst:	208
Generalmanager:	John Muckler
Coach:	Ted Nolan
Captain:	Pat LaFontaine
Arena:	Marine Midland Arena
Attendance:	16,911
Minorleague:	Rochester Americans South Carolina Stingrays
Goalsleader:	Donald Audette (28)
Assistsleader:	Garry Galley (34)
Pointsleader:	Derek Plante (53)
Plusminusleader:	Michael Peca (+26)
Pimleader:	Rob Ray (286)
Winsleader:	Dominik Hasek (37)
Gaaleader:	Dominik Hasek (2.27)
Divisionwin:	yes

The 1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season was the 27th for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.^[1] The season was the first season in the newly constructed Marine Midland Arena. 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.

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.^[2] It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1996–97 NHL regular season.^[3]

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).^[4] The Sabres were also shut out a league-high 10 times during the regular season.^[5]

Season standings

Playoffs

See also: 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Sabres defeated the Ottawa Senators in the first round. The series was played to overtime in Game 7. Derek Plante scored the series clinching goal in overtime. The Sabres then lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in five games in the second round.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|1||L||October 4, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||0–1–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|2||L||October 6, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||0–2–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|3||W||October 9, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||1–2–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|4||L||October 12, 1996||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||1–3–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|5||L||October 15, 1996||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||1–4–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|6||W||October 17, 1996||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||2–4–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|7||W||October 18, 1996||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||3–4–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|8||W||October 24, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||4–4–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|9||W||October 26, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||5–4–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|10||L||October 27, 1996||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||5–5–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|11||L||October 30, 1996||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||5–6–0 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|12||W||November 1, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||6–6–0 || |- style="text-align:center;"|13||T||November 2, 1996||0–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||6–6–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|14||L||November 7, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||6–7–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|15||L||November 9, 1996||3–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||6–8–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|16||W||November 11, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||7–8–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|17||L||November 12, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||7–9–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|18||W||November 14, 1996||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||8–9–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|19||L||November 19, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||8–10–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|20||W||November 21, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||9–10–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|21||W||November 23, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||10–10–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|22||L||November 26, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||10–11–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|23||W||November 27, 1996||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||11–11–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|24||W||November 29, 1996||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||12–11–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|25||W||November 30, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||13–11–1 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|26||L||December 4, 1996||6–7 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||13–12–1 || |- style="text-align:center;"|27||T||December 6, 1996||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||13–12–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|28||L||December 7, 1996||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||13–13–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|29||W||December 11, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||14–13–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|30||L||December 13, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||14–14–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|31||W||December 14, 1996||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||15–14–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|32||W||December 18, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||16–14–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|33||W||December 20, 1996||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||17–14–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|34||W||December 21, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||18–14–2 || |- style="text-align:center;"|35||T||December 23, 1996||0–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||18–14–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|36||W||December 26, 1996||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||19–14–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|37||L||December 28, 1996||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||19–15–3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|38||W||December 31, 1996||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||20–15–3 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|39||T||January 3, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||20–15–4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|40||W||January 5, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||21–15–4 || |- style="text-align:center;"|41||T||January 7, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||21–15–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|42||L||January 9, 1997||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||21–16–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|43||L||January 10, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||21–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|44||W||January 12, 1997||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||22–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|45||W||January 15, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||23–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|46||W||January 20, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||24–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|47||W||January 22, 1997||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||25–17–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|48||L||January 24, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||25–18–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|49||L||January 25, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||25–19–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|50||W||January 29, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||26–19–5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|51||W||January 31, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||27–19–5 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|52||T||February 2, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||27–19–6 || |- style="text-align:center;"|53||T||February 4, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||27–19–7 || |- style="text-align:center;"|54||T||February 6, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||27–19–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|55||W||February 8, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||28–19–8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|56||W||February 9, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||29–19–8 || |- style="text-align:center;"|57||T||February 12, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||29–19–9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|58||W||February 16, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||30–19–9 || |- style="text-align:center;"|59||T||February 18, 1997||5–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||30–19–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|60||W||February 21, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||31–19–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|61||W||February 23, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||32–19–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|62||L||February 27, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||32–20–10 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|63||W||March 1, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||33–20–10 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|64||W||March 5, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||34–20–10 || |- style="text-align:center;"|65||T||March 8, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||34–20–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|66||L||March 9, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||34–21–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|67||W||March 11, 1997||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||35–21–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|68||W||March 15, 1997||7–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||36–21–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|69||W||March 17, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||37–21–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|70||L||March 18, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||37–22–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|71||W||March 21, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||38–22–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|72||L||March 22, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||38–23–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|73||L||March 26, 1997||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||38–24–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|74||L||March 28, 1997||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||38–25–11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|75||L||March 30, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||38–26–11 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|76||T||April 1, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||38–26–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|77||L||April 2, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||38–27–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|78||W||April 4, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||39–27–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|79||L||April 7, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||39–28–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|80||W||April 10, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||40–28–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|81||L||April 12, 1997||0–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||40–29–12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|82||L||April 13, 1997||3–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||40–30–12 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1 ||W|| April 17, 1997 || 3–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Sabres lead 1–0 || |- style="background:#fbb;"| 2 ||L|| April 19, 1997 || 1–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Series tied 1–1 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 ||W|| April 21, 1997 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Sabres lead 2–1 || |- style="background:#fbb;"| 4 ||L|| April 23, 1997 || 0–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Series tied 2–2 || |- style="background:#fbb;"| 5 ||L|| April 25, 1997 || 1–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Senators lead 3–2 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 ||W|| April 27, 1997 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Series tied 3–3 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 7 ||W|| April 29, 1997 || 3–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Sabres win 4–3 || |-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 1 ||L|| May 3, 1997 || 3–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 1–0 || |- style="background:#fbb;"| 2 ||L|| May 5, 1997 || 1–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 2–0 || |- style="background:#fbb;"| 3 ||L|| May 7, 1997 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 3–0 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 4 ||W|| May 9, 1997 || 5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 3–1 || |- style="background:#fbb;"| 5 ||L|| May 11, 1997 || 3–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers win 4–1 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
= 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.

	Regular season						Playoffs
	Player
26		C	82	27	26	53	14	24	12	4	6	10	4	4
19		C	81	22	29	51	9	54	12	2	5	7	−3	8
28		RW	73	28	22	50	−6	48	11	4	5	9	−3	6
27		C	79	20	29	49	26	80	10	0	2	2	−3	8
17		RW	81	22	26	48	14	32	11	2	1	3	−2	6
15		RW	79	13	32	45	17	36	12	2	3	5	2	6
36		RW	68	19	24	43	16	249	8	0	4	4	2	36
3		D	71	4	34	38	10	102	12	0	6	6	2	14
18		LW	82	15	21	36	25	71	12	3	3	6	3	8
44		D	80	7	28	35	10	95	12	1	0	1	−9	16
12		LW	55	10	21	31	17	20	12	5	1	6	−5	2
42		D	62	11	19	30	19	43	12	0	2	2	0	4
8		D	82	4	19	23	23	112	12	2	3	5	−1	8
4		D	77	2	9	11	13	51	10	0	1	1	3	2
81		LW	12	8	2	10	1	4	7	0	0	0	−1	0
32		RW	82	7	3	10	3	286	12	0	1	1	−3	28
74		D	43	1	9	10	3	35	3	0	0	0	0	0
16		C	13	2	6	8	−8	4
38		LW	31	2	6	8	1	18
6		D	77	1	7	8	12	225	11	0	1	1	0	9
37		C	28	4	3	7	4	18
10		LW	42	3	4	7	−8	106	10	1	1	2	−2	32
76		C	45	2	4	6	−2	64	9	0	0	0	−2	6
93		C	25	2	4	6	−3	2
5		RW	18	1	4	5	4	11	6	1	0	1	−1	6
39		G	67	0	3	3		30	3	0	0	0		2
22		D	1	0	0	0	−1	0
40		D	2	0	0	0	1	2
31		G	13	0	0	0		4	10	0	0	0		9
30		G	3	0	0	0		0	1	0	0	0		0
25		RW	5	0	0	0	0	2

Goaltending

	Regular season										Playoffs
	Player
39		67	37	20	10	2177	153	2.27	.930	5	4037	3	1	1	68	5	1.96	.926	0	153
31		13	3	8	2	447	39	2.96	.913	0	789	10	4	6	334	26	2.74	.922	1	570
30		3	0	2	0	98	10	3.78	.898	0	159	1	0	0	4	0	0.00	1.000	0	5

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	Hart Memorial Trophy	Dominik Hasek	^[6]
	Frank J. Selke Trophy	Michael Peca	^[7]
	Jack Adams Award	Ted Nolan	^[8]
	Lester B. Pearson Award	Dominik Hasek	^[9]
	Lester Patrick Trophy	Seymour H. Knox III	^[10]
	Lester Patrick Trophy	Pat LaFontaine	^[10]
	NHL First All-Star team	Dominik Hasek (Goaltender)	^[11]
	Vezina Trophy	Dominik Hasek	^[12]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Dominik Hasek	^[13]

Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.^[14]

Round		Player	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	7	Erik Rasmussen	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
2	27	Cory Sarich	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
2	33	Darren Van Oene	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
3	54	Francois Methot	Saint-Hyacinthe Laser (QMJHL)
4	87	Kurt Walsh	Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
4	106	Mike Martone	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
5	115	Alexei Tezikov	Lada Togliatti (Russia)
6	142	Ryan Davis	Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
6	161	Darren Mortier	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
9	222	Scott Buhler	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

References

Web site: Buffalo Sabres 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 16, 2023.
Web site: 1996-97 Buffalo Sabres Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . July 16, 2023.

Notes and References

Book: National Hockey League. The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. 2010 . Triumph Books . 27. 978-1-60078-422-4.
Web site: Top Orlando News, Weather, Sports, Entertainment.
Web site: 1996-97 NHL Schedule and Results.
Web site: 1996-97 NHL Summary.
Web site: 1996-97 Buffalo Sabres Schedule and Results.
Web site: Hart Memorial Trophy . records.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: Frank J. Selke Trophy . records.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: Jack Adams Award . records.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: Ted Lindsay Award . records.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: Lester Patrick Trophy . records.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . records.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: Vezina Trophy . records.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 1997 . www.nhl.com . July 26, 2023.
Web site: 1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 27, 2023.