2014–15 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2014–15 Buffalo Sabres season was the 45th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The team finished last place overall in the league with 54 points and did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Off-season

Summer sessions The Sabres held their annual Summer Development Camp for the team's prospects and young players from July 14–18, 2014. The highlight of the camp was the annual Blue-White Game, held on July 15, which drew a crowd of over 8,000 spectators to the First Niagara Center.

The Sabres also sent a team to the Traverse City Prospects Tournament in September.

Training camp The Sabres played in six pre-season exhibition games before the start of the 2014–15 regular season.

Standings

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Michal Neuvirth Diving/Embellishment during NHL Game No. 886 in Nashville on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at 2:23 of the second period. – $2,000.00 February 25, 2015

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2014 preseason game log: 2–3–1 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 0–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Buffalo 0–1 Washington Lieuwen 16,707 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 23 Carolina 0–2 Buffalo Enroth 18,546 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 26 Toronto 6–4 Buffalo Neuvirth 18,942 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 28 Buffalo 2–3 Toronto SO Makarov 17,249 1–2–1 Recap 5 October 1 Washington 1–6 Buffalo Enroth 18,228 2–2–1 Recap 6 October 3 Buffalo 1–5 Carolina Neuvirth 7,890 2–3–1 Recap

Regular season 2014–15 game logRecord: 23–51–8 (Home: 14–22–5; Road: 9–29–3) October: 2–8–1 (Home: 0–4–1; Road: 2–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 9 Columbus 3–1 Buffalo Enroth 18,215 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 11 Buffalo 2–6 Chicago Enroth 22,012 0–2–0 0 Recap 3 October 13 Anaheim 5–1 Buffalo Neuvirth 18,912 0–3–0 0 Recap 4 October 14 Buffalo 4–3 Carolina SO Enroth 14,930 1–3–0 2 Recap 5 October 17 Florida 1–0 Buffalo Enroth 17,864 1–4–0 2 Recap 6 October 18 Boston 4–0 Buffalo Enroth 18,685 1–5–0 2 Recap 7 October 22 Buffalo 1–4 Anaheim Neuvirth 16,067 1–6–0 2 Recap 8 October 23 Buffalo 0–2 Los Angeles Enroth 18,230 1–7–0 2 Recap 9 October 25 Buffalo 2–1 San Jose Neuvirth 17,370 2–7–0 4 Recap 10 October 28 Buffalo 0–4 Toronto Neuvirth 18,898 2–8–0 4 Recap 11 October 30 Boston 3–2 Buffalo OT Enroth 17,477 2–8–1 5 Recap November: 6–6–1 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 1 Buffalo 0–5 Pittsburgh Enroth 18,652 2–9–1 5 Recap 13 November 2 Detroit 2–3 Buffalo SO Neuvirth 17,815 3–9–1 7 Recap 14 November 5 Montreal 2–1 Buffalo SO Neuvirth 17,837 3–9–2 8 Recap 15 November 7 Edmonton 3–2 Buffalo Neuvirth 17,490 3–10–2 8 Recap 16 November 8 Pittsburgh 6–1 Buffalo Enroth 19,070 3–11–2 8 Recap 17 November 11 Buffalo 1–6 St. Louis Neuvirth 17,570 3–12–2 8 Recap 18 November 13 Buffalo 3–6 Minnesota Enroth 18,925 3–13–2 8 Recap 19 November 15 Toronto 2–6 Buffalo Neuvirth 19,070 4–13–2 10 Recap 20 November 18 San Jose 1–4 Buffalo Enroth 17,435This figure encompasses ticket sales. Due to a severe lake-effect snowstorm cutting off all traffic south of Buffalo from the arena, actual seated attendance for the November 18 game was estimated at 6,200. 5–13–2 12 Recap – November 21 NY Rangers Buffalo Game rescheduled to February 20 due to hazardous weather in Buffalo. 21 November 22 Buffalo 2–1 Washington Enroth 18,506 6–13–2 14 Recap 22 November 26 Winnipeg 2–1 Buffalo Enroth 18,442 6–14–2 14 Recap 23 November 28 Montreal 1–2 Buffalo Enroth 19,070 7–14–2 16 Recap 24 November 29 Buffalo 4–3 Montreal SO Enroth 21,287 8–14–2 18 Recap December: 6–7–1 (Home: 6–2–0; Road: 0–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 2 Tampa Bay 1–2 Buffalo SO Enroth 17,772 9–14–2 20 Recap 26 December 4 Buffalo 0–5 Tampa Bay Enroth 17,767 9–15–2 20 Recap 27 December 6 Buffalo 2–3 Florida Neuvirth 8,597 9–16–2 20 Recap 28 December 9 Los Angeles 0–1 Buffalo Enroth 18,438 10–16–2 22 Recap 29 December 11 Calgary 3–4 Buffalo Enroth 18,208 11–16–2 24 Recap 30 December 13 Florida 3–4 Buffalo OT Enroth 18,450 12–16–2 26 Recap 31 December 15 Ottawa 4–5 Buffalo SO Enroth 14,578 13–16–2 28 Recap 32 December 16 Buffalo 1–5 Winnipeg Neuvirth 15,016 13–17–2 28 Recap 33 December 20 Colorado 5–1 Buffalo Enroth 18,831 13–18–2 28 Recap 34 December 21 Buffalo 3–4 Boston OT Enroth 17,565 13–18–3 29 Recap 35 December 23 Buffalo 3–6 Detroit Neuvirth 20,027 13–19–3 29 Recap 36 December 27 NY Islanders 3–4 Buffalo SO Enroth 19,070 14–19–3 31 Recap 37 December 29 Buffalo 2–5 Ottawa Enroth 18,284 14–20–3 31 Recap 38 December 31 Tampa Bay 5–1 Buffalo Enroth 19,070 14–21–3 31 Recap January: 0–12–0 (Home: 0–4–0; Road: 0–8–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Florida 2–0 Buffalo Neuvirth 19,070 14–22–3 31 Recap 40 January 3 Buffalo 1–6 NY Rangers Neuvirth 18,006 14–23–3 31 Recap 41 January 6 Buffalo 1–4 New Jersey Enroth 15,162 14–24–3 31 Recap 42 January 8 Buffalo 2–5 Carolina Enroth 9,781 14–25–3 31 Recap 43 January 9 Buffalo 1–2 Tampa Bay Neuvirth 19,204 14–26–3 31 Recap 44 January 13 Detroit 3–1 Buffalo Neuvirth 19,070 14–27–3 31 Recap 45 January 15 Minnesota 7–0 Buffalo Enroth 18,963 14–28–3 31 Recap 46 January 17 Philadelphia 4–3 Buffalo Neuvirth 19,070 14–29–3 31 Recap 47 January 18 Buffalo 4–6 Detroit Enroth 20,027 14–30–3 31 Recap 48 January 27 Buffalo 1–4 Calgary Enroth 18,563 14–31–3 31 Recap 49 January 29 Buffalo 2–3 Edmonton Enroth 16,839 14–32–3 31 Recap 50 January 30 Buffalo 2–5 Vancouver Hackett 18,570 14–33–3 31 Recap February: 5–6–2 (Home: 2–5–1; Road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 3 Buffalo 3–2 Montreal Enroth 21,286 15–33–3 33 Recap 52 February 5 St. Louis 3–0 Buffalo Enroth 18,912 15–34–3 33 Recap 53 February 7 Dallas 2–3 Buffalo Enroth 18,426 16–34–3 35 Recap 54 February 8 NY Islanders 3–2 Buffalo Neuvirth 18,900 16–35–3 35 Recap 55 February 10 Ottawa 2–1 Buffalo Enroth 19,070 16–36–3 35 Recap 56 February 15 Philadelphia 2–1 Buffalo Neuvirth 18,759 16–37–3 35 Recap 57 February 17 Buffalo 1–2 New Jersey SO Neuvirth 13,517 16–37–4 36 Recap 58 February 19 Buffalo 3–2 Philadelphia SO Neuvirth 19,472 17–37–4 38 Recap 59 February 20 NY Rangers 3–1 Buffalo Neuvirth 19,070 17–38–4 38 Recap 60 February 22 Nashville 2–1 Buffalo SO Neuvirth 19,070 17–38–5 39 Recap 61 February 24 Buffalo 4–2 Columbus Neuvirth 13,671 18–38–5 41 Recap 62 February 26 Vancouver 3–6 Buffalo Neuvirth 19,070 19–38–5 43 Recap 63 February 28 Buffalo 3–5 Florida Neuvirth 10,374 19–39–5 43 Recap March: 2–8–3 (Home: 0–2–2; Road: 2–6–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 3 Buffalo 0–3 Tampa Bay Lindback 18,922 19–40–5 43 Recap 65 March 6 Buffalo 2–3 Ottawa Lindback 18,241 19–41–5 43 Recap 66 March 7 Buffalo 1–6 Washington Hackett 18,506 19–42–5 43 Recap 67 March 11 Buffalo 3–4 Toronto SO Lindback 18,844 19–42–6 44 Recap 68 March 14 NY Rangers 2–0 Buffalo Lindback 19,070 19–43–6 44 Recap 69 March 16 Washington 4–3 Buffalo SO Lindback 19,070 19–43–7 45 Recap 70 March 17 Buffalo 2–1 Boston SO Lindback 17,565 20–43–7 47 Recap 71 March 20 New Jersey 3–1 Buffalo Lindback 19,070 20–44–7 47 Recap 72 March 21 Buffalo 0–3 Nashville Hackett 17,113 20–45–7 47 Recap 73 March 23 Buffalo 3–4 Dallas Lindback 18,113 20–46–7 47 Recap 74 March 26 Arizona 4–3 Buffalo OT Hackett 19,070 20–46–8 48 Recap 75 March 28 Buffalo 3–5 Colorado Hackett 18,007 20–47–8 48 Recap 76 March 30 Buffalo 4–1 Arizona Lindback 13,612 21–47–8 50 Recap April: 2–4–0 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 77 April 1 Toronto 3–4 Buffalo Lindback 19,070 22–47–8 52 Recap 78 April 3 Chicago 3–4 Buffalo Lindback 19,070 22–48–8 52 Recap 79 April 4 Buffalo 0–3 NY Islanders Makarov 16,170 22–49–8 52 Recap 80 April 6 Carolina 3–4 Buffalo Lindback 19,070 23–49–8 54 Recap 81 April 10 Buffalo 2–4 Columbus Lindback 17,855 23–50–8 54 Recap 82 April 11 Pittsburgh 2–0 Buffalo Lindback 19,070 23–51–8 54 RecapLegend:

Player stats Final stats Skaters

Regular season Player 78 20 26 46 −19 37 77 13 28 41 −11 4 69 13 22 35 −13 18 61 15 15 30 −16 25 ‡ 61 11 14 25 −30 63 ‡ 50 9 15 24 −18 39 57 8 12 20 −5 50 78 8 12 20 −32 26 ‡ 54 5 12 17 −3 8 39 6 10 16 0 12 82 5 10 15 −24 71 60 3 12 15 −10 51 60 7 7 14 −13 36 78 6 7 13 −28 12 ‡ 51 6 7 13 −6 26 ‡ 47 4 9 13 −15 61 59 1 8 9 −19 20 64 1 6 7 −22 68 † 21 0 7 7 −7 38 25 3 3 6 −10 2 46 0 6 6 −28 16 28 3 2 5 −14 10 46 0 5 5 −30 44 33 1 3 4 −9 40 7 2 1 3 4 2 21 1 2 3 −11 4 42 0 3 3 −11 36 39 1 1 2 −12 4 18 1 1 2 −5 2 4 0 1 1 3 0 9 0 1 1 −1 2 9 0 0 0 −4 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 ‡ 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player ‡ 37 35 2204 13 21 2 120 3.27 1237 0.903 1 0 0 0 ‡ 27 27 1544 6 17 3 77 2.99 941 0.918 0 0 0 0 † 16 15 891 4 8 2 41 2.76 542 0.924 0 0 0 4 5 4 250 0 4 1 18 4.32 155 0.884 0 0 0 0 1 1 60 0 1 0 3 3.00 36 0.917 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Sabres. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Notable achievements

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL First Star of the Week December 15, 2014 NHL All-Star game selection January 10, 2015

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 1st Career NHL Game October 9, 2014 400th Career NHL Game October 13, 2014 S. Reinhart 1st Career NHL Assist1st Career NHL Point October 25, 2014 100th Career NHL Assist November 5, 2014 400th Career NHL Game November 13, 2014 100th Career NHL Assist November 18, 2014 600th Career NHL Game November 22, 2014 800th Career NHL Game November 29, 2014 1st Career NHL Game 100th Career NHL Game December 11, 2014 100th Career NHL Point 100th Career NHL Game December 13, 2014 300th Career NHL Game December 20, 2014 1st Career NHL Goal December 20, 2014 1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point December 21, 2014 1st Career NHL Game December 23, 2014 400th Career NHL Game December 31, 2014 J. Gorges 600th Career NHL Game January 29, 2015 B. Gionta 500th Career NHL Point February 20, 2015 M. Moulson 300th Career NHL Point February 22, 2015 400th Career NHL Game February 26, 2015 100th Career NHL Game March 3, 2015 T. Ennis 200th Career NHL Point March 6, 2015 100th Career NHL Game March 16, 2015 100th Career NHL Game March 17, 2015 300th Career NHL Game March 20, 2015

Transactions The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2014–15 season:

Trades

June 28, 2014 To Washington Capitals 2nd-round pick in 2014 To Buffalo Sabres 2nd-round pick in 20143rd-round pick in 2014July 1, 2014 To Montreal Canadiens MIN's 2nd-round pick in 2016 To Buffalo Sabres Josh GorgesJuly 9, 2014 To Winnipeg Jets Conditional 7th-round pick in 2015 To Buffalo Sabres Jordan Samuels-ThomasDecember 16, 2014 To Columbus Blue Jackets Luke Adam To Buffalo Sabres Jerry D'AmigoFebruary 11, 2015 To Winnipeg Jets Tyler MyersDrew StaffordBrendan LemieuxJoel Armia1st-round pick in 2015 To Buffalo Sabres Evander KaneZach BogosianJason KasdorfFebruary 11, 2015 To Dallas Stars Jhonas Enroth To Buffalo Sabres Anders Lindbackconditional 3rd-round pick in 2016March 2, 2015 To Montreal Canadiens Brian Flynn To Buffalo Sabres 5th-round pick in 2016March 2, 2015 To New York Islanders Michal Neuvirth To Buffalo Sabres Chad Johnson3rd-round pick in 2016March 2, 2015 To Montreal Canadiens Torrey Mitchell To Buffalo Sabres Jack Nevins7th-round pick in 2016March 2, 2015 To Minnesota Wild Chris Stewart To Buffalo Sabres 2nd-round pick in 2017

Free agents acquired