The 1992–93 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 23rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Three Buffalo players scored at least 20 power-play goals each (Dave Andreychuk, Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny). Mogilny led all skaters in hat tricks during the regular season with 7, and Buffalo tied the Pittsburgh Penguins for most hat tricks scored by a team, with 10. The Sabres stumbled into the 1993 NHL Playoffs, losing their final 7 regular-season games.
Offseason On August 7, Buffalo acquired goaltender Dominik Hasek from the Chicago Blackhawks for Stephane Beauregard and future considerations (a 1993 fourth round pick that was used to select Eric Daze).
Regular season
Pat LaFontaine LaFontaine exploded offensively in the 1992–93 season with a personal-best and team-record 148 points (53 goals and 95 assists). The 148 points are also the most points ever scored by an American-born player in one season. His play-making ability enabled his linemate, Alexander Mogilny to set a team season record with 76 goals, (both LaFontaine's 95 assists and Mogilny's 76 goals still stand as the Sabres' team records). LaFontaine finished as runner-up to Mario Lemieux in the scoring race and earned a spot on the postseason NHL All-Star Second Team. He was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Lady Byng Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player.
During the 1993 playoffs, LaFontaine engineered another great moment: in spite of playing with a damaged knee, as well as having fallen onto the ice, he still managed to set up Brad May's overtime, series-clinching goal against the Boston Bruins.
Season standings
Playoffs
Adams Division Semifinals Buffalo's four-game sweep of the Bruins ended with a memorable overtime goal by Brad May at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium, leading to Sabres' play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret's famous "May Day! May Day! May Day!" call.
Adams Division Finals The long-awaited series between Patrick Roy and Grant Fuhr had finally arrived. The Canadiens swept the series, winning every game by a score of 4–3; three of the four games in overtime.
Schedule and results
Regular season
|1||October 8, 1992||4–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||0–1–0 ||
|2||October 10, 1992||5–2 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||1–1–0 ||
|3||October 11, 1992||8–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||2–1–0 ||
|4||October 13, 1992||5–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) ||2–2–0 ||
|5||October 16, 1992||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1992–93) ||3–2–0 ||
|6||October 17, 1992||4–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1992–93) ||3–3–0 ||
|7||October 21, 1992||4–1 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||4–3–0 ||
|8||October 23, 1992||5–4 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1992–93) ||5–3–0 ||
|9||October 28, 1992||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||5–3–1 ||
|10||October 30, 1992||12–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||6–3–1 ||
|11||October 31, 1992||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||6–3–2 ||
|12||November 2, 1992||6–7 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1992–93) ||6–4–2 ||
|13||November 5, 1992||5–7 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1992–93) ||6–5–2 ||
|14||November 7, 1992||2–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1992–93) ||6–6–2 ||
|15||November 11, 1992||7–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||7–6–2 ||
|16||November 13, 1992||8–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||8–6–2 ||
|17||November 14, 1992||5–7 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1992–93) ||8–7–2 ||
|18||November 17, 1992||2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) ||8–8–2 ||
|19||November 18, 1992||2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1992–93) ||8–9–2 ||
|20||November 21, 1992||3–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||8–10–2 ||
|21||November 22, 1992||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) ||8–10–3 ||
|22||November 25, 1992||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||8–10–4 ||
|23||November 27, 1992||4–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||9–10–4 ||
|24||November 29, 1992||5–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||10–10–4 ||
|25||November 30, 1992||0–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||10–11–4 ||
|26||December 4, 1992||5–5 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1992–93) ||10–11–5 ||
|27||December 6, 1992||3–7 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1992–93) ||10–12–5 ||
|28||December 7, 1992||3–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||10–13–5 ||
|29||December 9, 1992||5–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||11–13–5 ||
|30||December 11, 1992||9–3 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||12–13–5 ||
|31||December 12, 1992||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||12–13–6 ||
|32||December 15, 1992||3–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||13–13–6 ||
|33||December 19, 1992||2–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||13–14–6 ||
|34||December 20, 1992||5–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93) ||14–14–6 ||
|35||December 23, 1992||4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1992–93) ||15–14–6 ||
|36||December 27, 1992||2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) ||15–15–6 ||
|37||December 31, 1992||11–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1992–93) ||16–15–6 ||
|38||January 2, 1993||7–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||17–15–6 ||
|39||January 3, 1993||6–5 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||18–15–6 ||
|40||January 6, 1993||3–1 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||19–15–6 ||
|41||January 8, 1993||6–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1992–93) ||20–15–6 ||
|42||January 10, 1993||5–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1992–93) ||21–15–6 ||
|43||January 12, 1993||2–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||21–16–6 ||
|44||January 15, 1993||1–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) ||21–17–6 ||
|45||January 17, 1993||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) ||21–18–6 ||
|46||January 19, 1993||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1992–93) ||22–18–6 ||
|47||January 22, 1993||6–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||23–18–6 ||
|48||January 23, 1993||3–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||23–19–6 ||
|49||January 26, 1993||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) ||24–19–6 ||
|50||January 27, 1993||4–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1992–93) ||25–19–6 ||
|51||January 29, 1993||6–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1992–93) ||26–19–6 ||
|52||January 31, 1993||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1992–93) ||26–20–6 ||
|53||February 3, 1993||3–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||27–20–6 ||
|54||February 8, 1993||2–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||27–21–6 ||
|55||February 10, 1993||6–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) ||28–21–6 ||
|56||February 12, 1993||1–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) ||28–22–6 ||
|57||February 14, 1993||7–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93) ||29–22–6 ||
|58||February 17, 1993||5–3 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||30–22–6 ||
|59||February 19, 1993||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1992–93) ||30–22–7 ||
|60||February 24, 1993||10–7 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||31–22–7 ||
|61||February 26, 1993||4–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||31–23–7 ||
|62||February 27, 1993||4–8 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||31–24–7 ||
|63||March 1, 1993||2–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1992–93) ||31–25–7 ||
|64||March 3, 1993||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1992–93) ||31–25–8 ||
|65||March 5, 1993||2–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||31–26–8 ||
|66||March 7, 1993||2–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1992–93) ||32–26–8 ||
|67||March 10, 1993||7–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||33–26–8 ||
|68||March 13, 1993||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1992–93) ||33–26–9 ||
|69||March 15, 1993||2–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1992–93) ||33–27–9 ||
|70||March 16, 1993||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1992–93) ||33–27–10 ||
|71||March 20, 1993||3–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1992–93) ||34–27–10 ||
|72||March 22, 1993||8–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||35–27–10 ||
|73||March 24, 1993||0–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||35–28–10 ||
|74||March 25, 1993||6–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93) ||36–28–10 ||
|75||March 28, 1993||3–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1992–93) ||37–28–10 ||
|76||March 30, 1993||1–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1992–93) ||37–29–10 ||
|77||March 31, 1993||5–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1992–93) ||38–29–10 ||
|78||April 3, 1993||2–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||38–30–10 ||
|79||April 4, 1993||0–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1992–93) ||38–31–10 ||
|80||April 6, 1993||1–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93) ||38–32–10 ||
|81||April 10, 1993||5–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93) ||38–33–10 ||
|82||April 11, 1993||1–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1992–93) ||38–34–10 ||
|83||April 13, 1993||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1992–93) ||38–35–10 ||
|84||April 15, 1993||4–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93) ||38–36–10 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 18, 1993 || 5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Sabres lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 20, 1993 || 4–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Sabres lead 2–0 ||
| 3 || April 22, 1993 || 4–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins || Sabres lead 3–0 ||
| 4 || April 24, 1993 || 6–5 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins || Sabres win 4–0 ||
| 1 || May 2, 1993 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Canadiens lead 1–0 ||
| 2 || May 4, 1993 || 3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Canadiens lead 2–0 ||
| 3 || May 6, 1993 || 3–4 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Canadiens lead 3–0 ||
| 4 || May 8, 1993 || 3–4 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Canadiens win 4–0 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Forwards Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Pat LaFontaine 84 53 95 148 63 Alexander Mogilny 77 76 51 127 40 Dale Hawerchuk 81 16 80 96 52 Dave Andreychuk* 52 29 32 61 48 Bob Sweeney 80 21 26 47 118 Randy Wood 82 18 25 43 77 Yuri Khmylev 68 20 19 39 28 Wayne Presley 79 15 17 32 96 Brad May 82 13 13 26 242 Dave Hannan 55 5 15 20 43 Donald Audette 44 12 7 19 51 Bob Corkum 68 6 4 10 38 Viktor Gordiouk 16 3 6 9 0 Colin Patterson 36 4 2 6 22 Rob Ray 68 3 2 5 211 Bob Errey* 8 1 3 4 4 Scott Thomas 7 1 1 2 15 Matthew Barnaby 2 1 0 1 10 Doug MacDonald 5 1 0 1 2 Peter Ciavaglia 3 0 0 0 0 * - player was traded during season; stats only include games played with Buffalo
Defencemen Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Doug Bodger 81 9 45 54 87 Richard Smehlik 80 4 27 31 59 Petr Svoboda 40 2 24 26 59 Ken Sutton 63 8 14 22 30 Grant Ledyard 50 2 14 16 45 Gord Donnelly 60 3 8 11 221 Mike Ramsey* 33 2 8 10 20 Randy Moller 35 2 7 9 83 Bob Boughner 15 3 5 8 6 Keith Carney 30 2 4 6 55 Philippe Boucher 18 0 4 4 14 Greg Brown 10 0 1 1 6 * - player was traded during season; stats only include games played with Buffalo
Goaltending Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average Player GP W L T SO GAA Dominik Hasek 28 11 10 4 0 3.15 Grant Fuhr 29 11 15 2 0 3.47 Daren Puppa* 24 11 5 4 0 3.58 Tom Draper 11 5 6 0 0 3.70 * - player was traded during season; stats only include games played with Buffalo
Awards and records Pat LaFontaine, NHL Second Team All-Star Alexander Mogilny, NHL Second Team All-Star Alexander Mogilny, club record, goals in a season (76)