League: | NHL |
Season: | 2009–10 |
Year: | 2009 |
Team: | Buffalo Sabres |
Conferencerank: | 3rd |
Divisionrank: | 1st |
Record: | 45–27–10 |
Homerecord: | 25–10–6 |
Roadrecord: | 20–17–4 |
Goalsfor: | 235 |
Goalsagainst: | 207 |
Attendance: | Average: 18,529 |
Goalsleader: | Thomas Vanek (28) |
Assistsleader: | Tim Connolly (48) |
Pointsleader: | Derek Roy (69) |
Plusminusleader: | Jochen Hecht (+14) |
Pimleader: | Craig Rivet (100) |
Winsleader: | Ryan Miller (41) |
Gaaleader: | Ryan Miller (2.22) |
Divisionwin: | Yes |
The 2009–10 Buffalo Sabres season was the 40th season (39th season of play) of the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League. The season saw the Sabres win the Northeast Division title and return to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Ryan Miller won the Vezina Trophy for the first time in his career.[1] The Vezina win was the League-best eight for the Sabres franchise since 1982, when the trophy began being awarded to the NHL's top goaltender. Tyler Myers became the first Sabre to win the Calder Memorial Trophy,[2] for Rookie of the Year, since Tom Barrasso won it in the 1983–84 season.
|- align="center" bgcolor="white"| 1 || September 17 || Washington Capitals || 3-4 || Buffalo Sabres || Enroth || 17,597 || 0-0-1 || Recap |||- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2 || September 19 || Buffalo Sabres || 3-1 || Detroit Red Wings || Miller || 15,924 || 1-0-1 || Recap |||- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3 || September 21 || Buffalo Sabres || 2-1 || Washington Capitals || Lalime || 18,075 || 2-0-1 || Recap |||- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4 || September 23 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2-3 || Buffalo Sabres || Miller || 11,008 || 3-0-1 || Recap |||- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 5 || September 26 || Buffalo Sabres || 2-3 || Montreal Canadiens || Miller || 21,273 || 3-1-1 || Recap |||- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6 || September 27 || Buffalo Sabres || 7-6 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Lalime || 18,388 || 4-1-1 || Recap |||-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"| 1 || October 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 1-2 (OTL) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 0-0-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2 || October 8 || Phoenix Coyotes || 2-1 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 1-0-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3 || October 10 || Nashville Predators || 1-0 || Miller || Sommet Center – 14,209 || 2-0-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4 || October 13 || Detroit Red Wings || 6-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 17,459 || 3-0-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5 || October 16 || New York Islanders || 6-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 4-0-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6 || October 17 || Atlanta Thrashers || 2-4 || Lalime || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 4-1-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7 || October 21 || Florida Panthers || 5-2 || Miller || BankAtlantic Center – 12,607 || 5-1-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8 || October 24 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3-2 (SOW) || Miller || St. Pete Times Forum – 15,804|| 6-1-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 9 || October 28 || New Jersey Devils || 4-1 || Miller || Prudential Center – 14,182 || 7-1-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 10 || October 30 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3-2 (OTW) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,300 || 8-1-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 11 || October 31 || New York Islanders || 0-5 || Miller || Nassau Veterans Mem. Coliseum – 8,889 || 8-2-1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12 || November 4 || New York Islanders || 3-0 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 17,626 || 9-2-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 13 || November 6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2-5 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,525 || 9-3-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 14 || November 7 || Boston Bruins || 2-4 || Enroth || TD Garden – 17,565 || 9-4-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15 || November 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 3-1 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 17,797 || 10-4-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16 || November 13 || Calgary Flames || 2-1 (SOW) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 11-4-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 17 || November 14 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3-2 || Miller || Wachovia Center – 19,641 || 12-4-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18 || November 18 || Florida Panthers || 2-6 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,546 || 12-5-1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"| 19 || November 20 || Boston Bruins || 1-2 (OTL) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,291 || 12-5-2|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 20 || November 21 || Ottawa Senators || 3-5 || Lalime || Scotiabank Place – 17,206 || 12-6-2|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 21 || November 25 || Washington Capitals || 0-2 || Miller || Verizon Center – 18,277 || 12-7-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 22 || November 27 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4-2 || Miller || Wachovia Center – 19,673 || 13-7-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 23 || November 28 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5-1 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 14-7-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 24 || November 30 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3-0 || Miller || Air Canada Centre – 19,110 || 15-7-2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25 || December 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 6-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 16-7-2|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 26 || December 5 || New York Rangers || 1-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,301 || 16-8-2|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 27 || December 7 || New Jersey Devils || 0-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 16-9-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 28 || December 9 || Washington Capitals || 3-0 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 17,982 || 17-9-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 29 || December 11 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2-1 || Lalime || HSBC Arena – 18,009 || 18-9-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 30 || December 12 || New York Rangers || 3-2 || Miller || Madison Square Garden – 18,200 || 19-9-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31 || December 14 || Montreal Canadiens || 4-3 || Miller || Bell Centre – 21,273 || 20-9-2|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 32 || December 16 || Ottawa Senators || 0-2 || Miller || Scotiabank Place – 16,917 || 20-10-2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 33 || December 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,159 || 21-10-2|- align="center"| 34 || December 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1-2 (OTL) || Lalime || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 21-10-3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35 || December 21 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3-2 || Miller || Air Canada Centre – 19,235 || 22-10-3|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 36 || December 23 || Washington Capitals || 2-5 || Miller || Verizon Center – 18,277 || 22-11-3|- align="center"| 37 || December 26 || Ottawa Senators || 2-3 (OTL) || Miller || HSBC Arena -18,690 || 22-11-4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 38 || December 27 || St. Louis Blues || 5-3 || Lalime || Scottrade Center -19,150 || 23-11-4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 39 || December 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4-3 || Lalime || HSBC Arena -18,690 ||24-11-4|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40 || January 1 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 25-11-4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41 || January 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 1-0 || Miller || Bell Centre – 21,273 || 26-11-4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42 || January 6 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 27-11-4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 43 || January 8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 28-11-4|- align="center"| 44 || January 9 || Colorado Avalanche || 3-4 (OTL) || Lalime || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 28-11-5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 45 || January 14 || Atlanta Thrashers || 2-1 || Miller || Philips Arena – 11,313 || 29-11-5|- align="center"| 46 || January 16 || New York Islanders || 2-3 (SOL) || Miller ||Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – 13,635|| 29-11-6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 47 || January 18 || Phoenix Coyotes || 7-2 || Miller || Jobing.com Arena – 11,309|| 30-11-6|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 48 || January 19 || Anaheim Ducks || 4-5 || Lalime || Honda Center – 15,570 || 30-12-6|- align="center"| 49 || January 21 || Los Angeles Kings || 3-4 (SOL) || Miller || Staples Center – 16,884 || 30-12-7|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 50 || January 23 || San Jose Sharks || 2-5 || Miller || HP Pavilion – 17,562 || 30-13-7|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 51 || January 25 || Vancouver Canucks || 2-3 || Miller || General Motors Place – 18,810 || 30-14-7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 52 || January 27 || New Jersey Devils || 2-1 (SOW) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 31-14-7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 53 || January 29 || Boston Bruins || 2-1 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18690 || 32-14-7|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 54 || February 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4-5 || Miller || Mellon Arena – 17,029 || 32-15-7|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 55 || February 3 || Ottawa Senators || 2-4 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 32-16-7|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 56 || February 5 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3-4 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 32-17-7|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 57 || February 6 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 0-4 || Lalime || Nationwide Arena – 18,576 || 32-18-7|- align="center"| 58 || February 9 || Boston Bruins || 3-4 (OT) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 32-18-8|- align="center"| 59 || February 11 || Carolina Hurricanes || 2-3 (OT) || Miller || RBC Center – 15,527 || 32-18-9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60 || February 13 || San Jose Sharks || 3-1 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 33-18-9|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 61 || March 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2-3 || Lalime || Mellon Arena – 17,132 || 33-19-9|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 62 || March 3 || Washington Capitals || 1-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 33-20-9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 63 || March 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3-2 (OT) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 34-20-9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64 || March 7 || New York Rangers || 2-1 (OT) || Miller || Madison Square Garden – 18,200 || 35-20-9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 65 || March 10 || Dallas Stars || 5-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 36-20-9|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 66 || March 12 || Minnesota Wild || 2-3 || Lalime || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 36-21-9|- align="center"| 67 || March 13 || Detroit Red Wings || 2-3 (OT) || Miller || Joe Louis Arena – 20,066 || 36-21-10|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 68 || March 16 || Atlanta Thrashers || 3-4 || Lalime || Philips Arena – 12,540 || 36-22-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69 || March 18 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 6-2 || Miller || St. Pete Times Forum – 16,868 || 37-22-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70 || March 20 || Florida Panthers || 3-1 || Miller || BankAtlantic Center – 18,217 || 38-22-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 71 || March 21 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5-3 || Miller || RBC Center – 15,311 || 39-22-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72 || March 24 || Montreal Canadiens || 3-2 (SOW) || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 40-22-10|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 73 || March 26 || Ottawa Senators || 2-4 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 40-23-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 74 || March 27 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 7-1 || Lalime || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 41-23-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75 || March 29 || Boston Bruins || 3-2 || Miller || TD Garden – 17,565 || 42-23-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76 || March 31 || Florida Panthers || 6-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena – 18,690 || 43-23-10|-|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 77 || April 1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2-4 || Miller || Air Canada Centre || 43-24-10|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 78 || April 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 0-3 || Miller || Bell Centre || 43-25-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 79 || April 6 || New York Rangers || 5-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena || 44-25-10|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 80 || April 8 || Boston Bruins || 1-3 || Lalime || TD Garden || 44-26-10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81 || April 10 || Ottawa Senators || 5-2 || Miller || Scotiabank Place || 45-26-10|- align="center" bgcolor="ffcccc"| 82 || April 11 || New Jersey Devils || 1-2 || Lalime || Prudential Center || 45-27-10|-|-| 2009–10 Schedule
The Sabres qualified for the playoffs for the first time in three years. They had not qualified for the playoffs since winning the Presidents' Trophy in the 2006–07 NHL season.
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA= Goals against average; SA= Shots against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save percentage; SO= Shutouts
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Sabres. Stats reflect time with Sabres only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Sabres only.
Regular Season | |||||||||
Player | Award | Reached | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tyler Myers[9] | NHL Rookie of the Month | January 2010 | |||||||
Tyler Myers[10] | Calder Memorial Trophy winner | June 23, 2010 | |||||||
Ryan Miller[11] | Vezina Trophy winner | June 23, 2010 |
Regular Season | |||||||||
Player | Milestone | Reached | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Career NHL Game | October 3, 2009 | ||||||||
Tyler Myers | 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | October 8, 2009 | |||||||
1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | October 10, 2009 | ||||||||
Tyler Myers | 1st Career NHL Goal | October 16, 2009 | |||||||
Tim Kennedy | 1st Career NHL Goal | October 28, 2009 | |||||||
1st Career NHL Game 1st Career NHL Goal | November 13, 2009 | ||||||||
300th NHL Point | November 27, 2009 | ||||||||
The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2009–10 season.
Date | Details | |
---|---|---|
October 20, 2009[12] | To Boston Bruins Daniel Paille | |
March 3, 2010[13] | To Columbus Blue Jackets Nathan Paetsch 2nd-round pick in 2010 | To Buffalo Sabres Raffi Torres |
March 3, 2010 | To Atlanta Thrashers Clarke MacArthur | To Buffalo Sabres 3rd-round pick in 2010 4th-round pick in 2010 |
Player | Former team | Contract terms | |
Steve Montador[14] | 2 years, $3.1 million | ||
Joe DiPenta[15] | 1 year, $550,000 | ||
Jean-Philippe Lamoureux[16] | 1 year | ||
Cody McCormick[17] | 1 year, $522,500 | ||
Mike Grier[18] | 1 year | ||
Jeff Cowan[19] | Undisclosed |
Player | New team | Contract terms | |
Mikael Tellqvist[20] | 1 year, $1.3 million | ||
Jaroslav Spacek[21] | 3 years, $11.5 million | ||
Maxim Afinogenov[22] | 1 year, $800,000 | ||
Dominic Moore[23] | 1 year |
Player | |
Teppo Numminen[24] |
Player | Contract terms | |
Tyler Myers[25] | 3 years | |
Paul Byron[26] | 3 years | |
Matt Ellis[27] | 1 year | |
Patrick Kaleta[28] | 1 year, $522,500 | |
Andrej Sekera[29] | 2 years, $2 million | |
1 year, $522,500 | ||
Drew Stafford[30] | 2 years, $3.8 million | |
Tyler Ennis[31] | 3-year entry-level contract | |
Mark Mancari[32] | 1 year | |
Luke Adam[33] | 3-year entry-level contract | |
Nick Crawford[34] | 3-year entry-level contract | |
Mike Grier[35] | 1 year |
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was held June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.
2009 NHL Entry Draft Results – Buffalo Sabres | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Overall Pick | Player | Nationality | Position | Team from | League from | ||
1 | 13 | RW | ||||||
3 | 66 | D | ||||||
4 | 104 | LW | OHL | |||||
5 | 134 | Mark Adams | D | USHS-MA | ||||
6 | 164 | G | ||||||
7 | 194 | RW |
* The Sabres' second-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on July 4, 2008 that sent Craig Rivet and a seventh-round pick in 2010 to Buffalo in exchange for a second-round pick in 2010 and this pick.[36]
* The Los Angeles Kings' third-round pick went to the Sabres as the result of a trade on July 4, 2008 that sent Steve Bernier to the Vancouver Canucks for a second-round pick in 2010 and this pick.[37]
Vancouver previously acquired in a trade on July 5, 2006 that sent Dan Cloutier to Los Angeles for a second-round pick in 2007 and this pick (being conditional at time of trade). The condition – Dan Cloutier resigning with the Los Angeles Kings – has been verified on September 27, 2006.[38]
* The Sabres' third-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 to Buffalo in exchange for a first-round pick in 2008 and this pick.
The Portland Pirates remain Buffalo's top affiliate in the American Hockey League in 2009–10.