The 2010–11 Buffalo Sabres season was the 41st season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, this was the 40th season of play for the franchise and was celebrated as such by the team.

This was the last time that the Sabres qualified for postseason play until 2026.

Off-season To commemorate the team's 40th anniversary, the Sabres went retro, reverting to their pre-1996 logo and to the design of the first season uniforms (blue with gold and white trim) with a silver trim the team has been using as a third uniform since the 2008–09 season. The new road uniforms would be white with blue and gold trim, similar to the original 1970–71 uniforms; a new third jersey was used paying homage to the AHL Bisons that played in the city prior to 1970. The jersey would come complete with the team's 40th anniversary logo (the current logo with "1970", the team's first season, inside.)

Regular season

Franchise sale On November 30, 2010, Ken Campbell of The Hockey News reported a story that billionaire Terrence Pegula had signed a letter of intent to purchase the Sabres from owners Tom Golisano, Larry Quinn and Daniel DiPofi for US$150 million. Pegula was the founder, president and CEO of East Resources, one of the largest privately held companies in the United States before selling the company. After the report was released, Quinn claimed that the report was "untrue" but had refused further comment. The $150 million was later determined to be an undervalued amount, as Forbes magazine had valued the team at just under $170 million in 2010.

In December 2010, Pegula officially expressed interest in buying the Sabres for $170 million and submitted a letter of intent to the NHL.

In January 2021, Golisano reportedly issued a counteroffer with an asking price of US$175 million. An agreement between Pegula and Golisano to sell the team was reached on January 29, 2011, with Pegula buying the team for $189 million ($175 million with $14 million in debt included) with the Sabres and Golisano officially making an announcement in a press conference on February 3, 2011. League owners approved the sale on February 18. In the conference, it was revealed that an unnamed bidder submitted a much higher bid than Pegula's, but made the bid contingent upon moving the team.Golisano turned down higher bid for Sabres . WIVB-TV. Retrieved February 3, 2011. The description is consistent with that of Jim Balsillie, who has made public his efforts to move a team to Hamilton, Ontario, a move that the Sabres have actively opposed. Terry Pegula named former Pittsburgh Penguins executive Ted Black to be the team president.Team looking forward to executive decisions. Buffalo News. Retrieved February 23, 2011. Pegula was introduced as the Sabres' owner in a public ceremony at HSBC Arena on February 23, accompanied by what would be the final appearance of all three members of The French Connection line before Rick Martin's death three weeks later.

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 || September 25 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1-3 || Buffalo Sabres || || Miller || 1-0-0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 || September 27 || Buffalo Sabres || 4-5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Enroth || 1-1-0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 || September 28 (in Dundas, Ontario) || Buffalo Sabres || 2-1 || Ottawa Senators || || Miller || 2-1-0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 || September 30 || Buffalo Sabres || 5-3 || Montreal Canadiens || || Enroth || 3-1-0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 || October 1 || Buffalo Sabres || 1-3 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Miller || 3-2-0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 || October 3 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3-9 || Buffalo Sabres || || Miller || 4-2-0 ||

Regular season

Game log

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 || 8 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2-1 || Miller || Scotiabank Place/19,350 || 1-0-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 || 9 || New York Rangers || 3-6 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 1-1-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 || 11 || Chicago Blackhawks || 3-4 || Miller || HSBC Arena/17,896 || 1-2-0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 4 || 13 || New Jersey Devils || 0-1 (OT) || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 1-2-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 || 15 || Montreal Canadiens || 1-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/17,264 || 1-3-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 || 16 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 3-4 || Lalime || United Center/21,293 || 1-4-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 || 20 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 4-1 || Miller || Philips Arena/8,820 || 2-4-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 || 22 || Ottawa Senators || 2-4 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,009 || 2-5-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 || 23 || @ New Jersey Devils || 6-1 || Miller || Prudential Center/14,228 || 3-5-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 || 26 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3-6 || Miller || Wells Fargo Center/19,361 || 3-6-1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 11 || 29 || @ Atlanta Thrashers || 3-4 (OT) || Miller || Philips Arena/10,172 || 3-6-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 || 30 || @ Dallas Stars || 0-4 || Lalime || American Airlines Center/15,015 || 3-7-2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 || 3 || Boston Bruins || 2-5 || Enroth || HSBC Arena/18,428 || 3-8-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 || 5 || Montreal Canadiens || 2-3 || Lalime || HSBC Arena/18,026 || 3-9-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 || 6 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3-2 (SO) || Enroth || Air Canada Centre/19,329 || 4-9-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || 10 || @ New Jersey Devils || 5-4 (SO) || Enroth || Prudential Center/14,566 || 5-9-2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 17 || 11 || @ New York Rangers || 2-3 (OT) || Enroth || Madison Square Garden/17,848 || 5-9-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 || 13 || Washington Capitals || 3-2 (OT) || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 6-9-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 || 15 || Vancouver Canucks || 4-3 (OT) || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 7-9-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 || 17 || @ Washington Capitals || 2-4 || Miller || Verizon Center/18,398 || 7-10-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || 19 || Los Angeles Kings || 4-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,418 || 8-10-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 || 20 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1-2 || Lalime || HSBC Arena/17,833 || 8-11-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 || 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0-1 || Enroth || HSBC Arena/18,250 || 8-12-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 || 26 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3-1 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,004 || 9-12-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 || 27 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 1-3 || Miller || Bell Centre/21,273 || 9-13-3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 || 3 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 5-0 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,529 || 10-13-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 || 4 || @ Ottawa Senators || 1-0 (SO) || Miller || Scotiabank Place/16,364 || 11-13-3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 28 || 7 || @ Boston Bruins || 2-3 (OT) || Miller || TD Garden/17,565 || 11-13-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 || 9 || San Jose Sharks || 6-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,017 || 12-13-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 || 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2-5 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 12-14-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 || 15 || Boston Bruins || 3-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,197 || 13-14-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 || 17 || @ Florida Panthers || 2-6 || Miller || BankAtlantic Center/16,894 || 13-15-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 || 18 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 1-3 || Miller || St. Pete Times Forum/17,141 || 13-16-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 || 21 || Anaheim Ducks || 5-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 14-16-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 || 23 || Florida Panthers || 3-4 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 14-17-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 || 27 || @ Calgary Flames || 2-5 || Miller || Pengrowth Saddledome/19,289 || 14-18-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 || 28 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 4-2 || Miller || Rexall Place/16,839 || 15-18-4

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 || 1 || Boston Bruins || 7-6 (SO) || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 16-18-4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 39 || 4 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 3-4 (OT) || Miller || Pepsi Center/12,548 || 16-18-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 || 6 || @ San Jose Sharks || 3-0 || Miller || HP Pavilion/17,562 || 17-18-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 || 8 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 2-1 || Miller || Jobing.com Arena/13,905 || 18-18-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 || 11 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2-5 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,155 || 18-19-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 || 13 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,276 || 19-19-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 || 15 || @ New York Islanders || 3-5 || Miller || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum/12,223 || 19-20-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 || 18 || Montreal Canadiens || 4-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/17,565 || 20-20-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 || 20 || @ Boston Bruins || 2-1 (OT) || Miller || TD Garden/18,225 || 21-20-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 || 21 || New York Islanders || 2-5 || Lalime || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 21-21-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 || 23 || @ New York Islanders || 5-3 || Miller || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum/10,120 || 22-21-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 || 25 || @ Ottawa Senators || 3-2 (OT) || Miller || Scotiabank Place/18,990 || 23-21-5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 || 4 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 2-3 || Miller || Consol Energy Center/18,315 || 23-22-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 || 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,264 || 24-22-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 || 8 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 7-4 || Miller || St. Pete Times Forum/14,444 || 25-22-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 || 10 || @ Florida Panthers || 3-2 (OT) || Miller || BankAtlantic Center/14,559 || 26-22-5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 54 || 13 || New York Islanders || 6-7 (OT) || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 26-22-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 || 15 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3-2 (SO) || Enroth || Bell Centre/21,273 || 27-22-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 || 16 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,414 || 27-23-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 57 || 18 || St. Louis Blues || 0-3 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,493 || 27-24-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 || 20 || Washington Capitals || 1-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 27-25-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 || 23 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4-1 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 28-25-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 || 25 || Ottawa Senators || 4-2 || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 29-25-6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 61 || 26 || Detroit Red Wings || 2-3 (SO) || Miller || HSBC Arena/18,690 || 29-25-7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 || 1 || @ New York Rangers || 3-2 || Miller || Madison Square Garden/18,200 || 30-25-7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | 63 || 3 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 2-3 (OT) || Miller || RBC Center/15,213 || 30-25-8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 || 5 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 5-3 || Miller || Wells Fargo Center/19,901 || 31-25-8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 || 6 || @ Minnesota Wild || 3-2 || Enroth || Xcel Energy Center/18,091 || 32-25-8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 || 8 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 1-3 || Miller || Consol Energy Center/18,314 || 32-26-8