1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season was the 27th for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. 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. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1996–97 NHL regular season.

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). The Sabres were also shut out a league-high 10 times during the regular season.

Season standings

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

|1||October 4, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||0–1–0 ||

|2||October 6, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||0–2–0 ||

|3||October 9, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||1–2–0 ||

|4||October 12, 1996||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||1–3–0 ||

|5||October 15, 1996||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||1–4–0 ||

|6||October 17, 1996||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||2–4–0 ||

|7||October 18, 1996||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||3–4–0 ||

|8||October 24, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||4–4–0 ||

|9||October 26, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||5–4–0 ||

|10||October 27, 1996||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||5–5–0 ||

|11||October 30, 1996||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||5–6–0 ||

|12||November 1, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||6–6–0 ||

|13||November 2, 1996||0–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||6–6–1 ||

|14||November 7, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||6–7–1 ||

|15||November 9, 1996||3–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||6–8–1 ||

|16||November 11, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||7–8–1 ||

|17||November 12, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||7–9–1 ||

|18||November 14, 1996||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||8–9–1 ||

|19||November 19, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||8–10–1 ||

|20||November 21, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||9–10–1 ||

|21||November 23, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||10–10–1 ||

|22||November 26, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||10–11–1 ||

|23||November 27, 1996||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||11–11–1 ||

|24||November 29, 1996||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||12–11–1 ||

|25||November 30, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||13–11–1 ||

|26||December 4, 1996||6–7 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||13–12–1 ||

|27||December 6, 1996||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||13–12–2 ||

|28||December 7, 1996||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||13–13–2 ||

|29||December 11, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||14–13–2 ||

|30||December 13, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||14–14–2 ||

|31||December 14, 1996||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||15–14–2 ||

|32||December 18, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||16–14–2 ||

|33||December 20, 1996||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||17–14–2 ||

|34||December 21, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||18–14–2 ||

|35||December 23, 1996||0–0 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||18–14–3 ||

|36||December 26, 1996||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||19–14–3 ||

|37||December 28, 1996||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||19–15–3 ||

|38||December 31, 1996||6–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||20–15–3 ||

|39||January 3, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||20–15–4 ||

|40||January 5, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||21–15–4 ||

|41||January 7, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||21–15–5 ||

|42||January 9, 1997||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||21–16–5 ||

|43||January 10, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||21–17–5 ||

|44||January 12, 1997||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||22–17–5 ||

|45||January 15, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||23–17–5 ||

|46||January 20, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||24–17–5 ||

|47||January 22, 1997||6–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||25–17–5 ||

|48||January 24, 1997||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||25–18–5 ||

|49||January 25, 1997||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||25–19–5 ||

|50||January 29, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||26–19–5 ||

|51||January 31, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||27–19–5 ||

|52||February 2, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||27–19–6 ||

|53||February 4, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||27–19–7 ||

|54||February 6, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||27–19–8 ||

|55||February 8, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||28–19–8 ||

|56||February 9, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||29–19–8 ||

|57||February 12, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||29–19–9 ||

|58||February 16, 1997||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||30–19–9 ||

|59||February 18, 1997||5–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||30–19–10 ||

|60||February 21, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||31–19–10 ||

|61||February 23, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||32–19–10 ||

|62||February 27, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||32–20–10 ||

|63||March 1, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||33–20–10 ||

|64||March 5, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||34–20–10 ||

|65||March 8, 1997||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||34–20–11 ||

|66||March 9, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||34–21–11 ||

|67||March 11, 1997||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||35–21–11 ||

|68||March 15, 1997||7–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||36–21–11 ||

|69||March 17, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||37–21–11 ||

|70||March 18, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||37–22–11 ||

|71||March 21, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||38–22–11 ||

|72||March 22, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||38–23–11 ||

|73||March 26, 1997||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||38–24–11 ||

|74||March 28, 1997||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||38–25–11 ||

|75||March 30, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||38–26–11 ||

|76||April 1, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||38–26–12 ||

|77||April 2, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||38–27–12 ||

|78||April 4, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||39–27–12 ||

|79||April 7, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Hartford Whalers (1996–97) ||39–28–12 ||

|80||April 10, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||40–28–12 ||

|81||April 12, 1997||0–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||40–29–12 ||

|82||April 13, 1997||3–8 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||40–30–12 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

| 1 || April 17, 1997 || 3–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Sabres lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || April 19, 1997 || 1–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Series tied 1–1 ||

| 3 || April 21, 1997 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Sabres lead 2–1 ||

| 4 || April 23, 1997 || 0–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Series tied 2–2 ||

| 5 || April 25, 1997 || 1–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Senators lead 3–2 ||

| 6 || April 27, 1997 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Series tied 3–3 ||

| 7 || April 29, 1997 || 3–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Sabres win 4–3 ||

| 1 || May 3, 1997 || 3–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 1–0 ||

| 2 || May 5, 1997 || 1–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 2–0 ||

| 3 || May 7, 1997 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 3–0 ||

| 4 || May 9, 1997 || 5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers || Flyers lead 3–1 ||

| 5 || 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. Player Regular season Playoffs 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