2018–19 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2018–19 Buffalo Sabres season was the 49th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.

After experiencing a ten-game winning streak in November that put them atop the NHL standings, the Sabres regressed sharply the rest of the season and were officially eliminated from playoff contention on March 23, 2019, after suffering a 7–4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, joining the 2016–17 Philadelphia Flyers as the only teams in NHL history to win 10 consecutive games and be eliminated from playoff contention.

With the Carolina Hurricanes clinching a playoff berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Sabres became the team with the longest active postseason appearance drought in the NHL at eight consecutive seasons, about 1.5 years after their football counterparts, the Buffalo Bills, ended what was the longest active postseason appearance drought in the NFL at 17 consecutive seasons. On April 7, 2019, the Sabres fired Phil Housley, who became the fifth head coach to be fired since the Pegulas bought the team from Tom Golisano in February 2011.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 15, 2018. 2018 preseason game log: 3–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 17 Buffalo 4–1 Columbus Ullmark 9,845 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 18 Pittsburgh 2–3 Buffalo Hutton 15,602 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 21 Buffalo 3–5 Toronto Ullmark 18,833 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 22 Toronto 3–2 Buffalo Hutton 17,624 2–2–0 Recap 5 September 25 Columbus 4–2 Buffalo Wedgewood – 2–3–0 Recap 6 September 26 Buffalo 1–5 Pittsburgh Ullmark 16,516 2–4–0 Recap 7 September 28 Buffalo 5–4 NY Islanders Hutton – 3–4–0 RecapNotes: Game was played at Clinton Arena in Clinton, New York. Game was played at Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ontario.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018. 2018–19 game logOctober: 6–4–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 4 Boston 4–0 Buffalo Hutton 19,070 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 6 NY Rangers 1–3 Buffalo Hutton 16,824 1–1–0 2 Recap 3 October 8 Vegas 2–4 Buffalo Hutton 16,004 2–1–0 4 Recap 4 October 11 Colorado 6–1 Buffalo Hutton 15,396 2–2–0 4 Recap 5 October 13 Buffalo 3–0 Arizona Ullmark 15,304 3–2–0 6 Recap 6 October 16 Buffalo 1–4 Vegas Hutton 18,321 3–3–0 6 Recap 7 October 18 Buffalo 1–5 San Jose Hutton 17,389 3–4–0 6 Recap 8 October 20 Buffalo 5–1 Los Angeles Ullmark 18,230 4–4–0 8 Recap 9 October 21 Buffalo 4–2 Anaheim Hutton 17,174 5–4–0 10 Recap 10 October 25 Montreal 3–4 Buffalo Hutton 16,112 6–4–0 12 Recap 11 October 27 Buffalo 4–5 Columbus OT Ullmark 15,642 6–4–1 13 Recap 12 October 30 Calgary 2–1 Buffalo OT Hutton 15,196 6–4–2 14 RecapNovember: 11–3–1 (Home: 6–0–0; Road: 5–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 1 Buffalo 2–4 Ottawa Hutton 12,587 6–5–2 14 Recap 14 November 3 Ottawa 2–9 Buffalo Ullmark 17,881 7–5–2 16 Recap 15 November 4 Buffalo 1–3 NY Rangers Hutton 16,904 7–6–2 16 Recap 16 November 8 Buffalo 6–5 Montreal OT Hutton 20,488 8–6–2 18 Recap 17 November 10 Vancouver 3–4 Buffalo SO Hutton 17,541 9–6–2 20 Recap 18 November 13 Tampa Bay 1–2 Buffalo Hutton 15,833 10–6–2 22 Recap 19 November 16 Buffalo 2–1 Winnipeg SO Hutton 15,321 11–6–2 24 Recap 20 November 17 Buffalo 3–2 Minnesota Ullmark 18,947 12–6–2 26 Recap 21 November 19 Buffalo 5–4 Pittsburgh OT Hutton 18,618 13–6–2 28 Recap 22 November 21 Philadelphia 2–5 Buffalo Hutton 19,070 14–6–2 30 Recap 23 November 23 Montreal 2–3 Buffalo OT Hutton 19,070 15–6–2 32 Recap 24 November 24 Buffalo 3–2 Detroit SO Ullmark 19,515 16–6–2 34 Recap 25 November 27 San Jose 2–3 Buffalo OT Hutton 19,070 17–6–2 36 Recap 26 November 29 Buffalo 4–5 Tampa Bay Hutton 19,092 17–7–2 36 Recap 27 November 30 Buffalo 2–3 Florida OT Ullmark 12,179 17–7–3 37 RecapDecember: 4–6–3 (Home: 3–3–2; Road: 1–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 28 December 3 Buffalo 1–2 Nashville Hutton 17,311 17–8–3 37 Recap 29 December 4 Toronto 4–3 Buffalo OT Ullmark 19,070 17–8–4 38 Recap 30 December 8 Philadelphia 6–2 Buffalo Ullmark 18,283 17–9–4 38 Recap 31 December 11 Los Angeles 3–4 Buffalo OT Ullmark 17,897 18–9–4 40 Recap 32 December 13 Arizona 1–3 Buffalo Hutton 16,872 19–9–4 42 Recap 33 December 15 Buffalo 3–4 Washington SO Hutton 18,506 19–9–5 43 Recap 34 December 16 Buffalo 4–2 Boston Ullmark 17,565 20–9–5 45 Recap 35 December 18 Florida 5–2 Buffalo Hutton 17,602 20–10–5 45 Recap 36 December 21 Buffalo 1–2 Washington Hutton 18,506 20–11–5 45 Recap 37 December 22 Anaheim 0–3 Buffalo Ullmark 19,070 21–11–5 47 Recap 38 December 27 Buffalo 1–4 St. Louis Hutton 17,867 21–12–5 47 Recap 39 December 29 Boston 3–2 Buffalo OT Hutton 19,070 21–12–6 48 Recap 40 December 31 NY Islanders 3–1 Buffalo Hutton 19,070 21–13–6 48 RecapJanuary: 4–6–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 2–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 41 January 3 Florida 3–4 Buffalo Ullmark 18,551 22–13–6 50 Recap 42 January 5 Buffalo 1–2 Boston Ullmark 17,565 22–14–6 50 Recap 43 January 8 New Jersey 1–5 Buffalo Hutton 18,212 23–14–6 52 Recap 44 January 11 Buffalo 3–4 Carolina Hutton 17,199 23–15–6 52 Recap 45 January 12 Tampa Bay 5–3 Buffalo Ullmark 19,070 23–16–6 52 Recap 46 January 14 Buffalo 2–7 Edmonton Hutton 18,347 23–17–6 52 Recap 47 January 16 Buffalo 4–3 Calgary OT Ullmark 18,286 24–17–6 54 Recap 48 January 18 Buffalo 3–4 Vancouver Ullmark 18,176 24–18–6 54 Recap 49 January 29 Buffalo 5–4 Columbus Hutton 15,615 25–18–6 56 Recap 50 January 30 Buffalo 0–1 Dallas Ullmark 17,986 25–19–6 56 RecapFebruary: 4–7–2 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 0–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Chicago 7–3 Buffalo Hutton 18,205 25–20–6 56 Recap 52 February 5 Minnesota 4–5 Buffalo SO Ullmark 16,847 26–20–6 58 Recap 53 February 7 Carolina 6–5 Buffalo OT Ullmark 17,588 26–20–7 59 Recap 54 February 9 Detroit 1–3 Buffalo Ullmark 19,070 27–20–7 61 Recap 55 February 10 Winnipeg 3–1 Buffalo Hutton 17,966 27–21–7 61 Recap 56 February 12 NY Islanders 1–3 Buffalo Ullmark 16,894 28–21–7 63 Recap 57 February 15 NY Rangers 6–2 Buffalo Ullmark 19,070 28–22–7 63 Recap 58 February 17 Buffalo 1–4 New Jersey Hutton 16,514 28–23–7 63 Recap 59 February 19 Buffalo 2–4 Florida Ullmark 10,340 28–24–7 63 Recap 60 February 21 Buffalo 1–2 Tampa Bay SO Hutton 19,092 28–24–8 64 Recap 61 February 23 Washington 2–5 Buffalo Hutton 19,070 29–24–8 66 Recap 62 February 25 Buffalo 3–5 Toronto Ullmark 19,026 29–25–8 66 Recap 63 February 26 Buffalo 2–5 Philadelphia Hutton 18,466 29–26–8 66 RecapMarch: 2–12–2 (Home: 2–5–1; Road: 0–7–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 Pittsburgh 3–4 Buffalo OT Ullmark 19,070 30–26–8 68 Recap 65 March 2 Buffalo 2–5 Toronto Ullmark 19,088 30–27–8 68 Recap 66 March 4 Edmonton 4–3 Buffalo Ullmark 17,775 30–28–8 68 Recap 67 March 7 Buffalo 4–5 Chicago SO Hutton 21,500 30–28–9 69 Recap 68 March 9 Buffalo 0–3 Colorado Hutton 18,052 30–29–9 69 Recap 69 March 12 Dallas 2–0 Buffalo Ullmark 17,830 30–30–9 69 Recap 70 March 14 Pittsburgh 5–0 Buffalo Hutton 18,680 30–31–9 69 Recap 71 March 16 Buffalo 2–4 Carolina Ullmark 15,171 30–32–9 69 Recap 72 March 17 St. Louis 3–4 Buffalo SO Hutton 18,486 31–32–9 71 Recap 73 March 20 Toronto 4–2 Buffalo Hutton 19,070 31–33–9 71 Recap 74 March 23 Buffalo 4–7 Montreal Hutton 21,302 31–34–9 71 Recap 75 March 25 Buffalo 1–3 New Jersey Ullmark 12,053 31–35–9 71 Recap 76 March 26 Buffalo 0–4 Ottawa Hutton 12,074 31–36–9 71 Recap 77 March 28 Detroit 5–4 Buffalo OT Ullmark 16,236 31–36–10 72 Recap 78 March 30 Buffalo 1–5 NY Islanders Hutton 13,917 31–37–10 72 Recap 79 March 31 Columbus 4–0 Buffalo Ullmark 17,990 31–38–10 72 RecapApril: 2–1–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 2 Nashville 3–2 Buffalo Hutton 16,569 31–39–10 72 Recap 81 April 4 Ottawa 2–5 Buffalo Hutton 17,998 32–39–10 74 Recap 82 April 6 Buffalo 7–1 Detroit Ullmark 19,515 33–39–10 76 RecapLegend:

Player statistics As of April 6, 2019

Skaters Regular season Player 77 28 54 82 −11 26 82 22 43 65 −10 16 82 40 23 63 0 36 82 9 35 44 −13 34 78 5 38 43 −41 38 78 14 20 34 −18 12 73 16 15 31 −4 4 78 14 15 29 −9 41 74 9 20 29 −7 25 77 12 13 25 −19 10 65 3 16 19 −5 52 72 5 13 18 −11 17 73 6 8 14 −8 37 59 4 10 14 −4 35 63 6 7 13 −13 26 69 5 8 13 −20 26 65 7 5 12 −22 20 † 20 3 7 10 −4 16 ‡ 30 3 4 7 +1 32 33 1 5 6 −8 20 38 1 5 6 +1 13 6 2 2 4 +1 2 12 2 2 4 −4 4 23 2 2 4 −5 6 15 0 3 3 −8 4 11 2 0 2 0 0 14 0 2 2 −7 4 16 0 1 1 −3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 ‡ 2 0 0 0 +1 2 4 0 0 0 −5 0 4 0 0 0 −4 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 50 48 2,839 18 25 5 142 3.00 1541 .908 0 0 1 2 37 34 2,102 15 14 5 109 3.11 1146 .905 2 0 1 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.

Transactions The Sabres have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Toronto Maple Leafs6th-round pick in 2018To Buffalo Sabres6th-round pick in 2019 To Pittsburgh PenguinsConditional 4th-round pick in 2019To Buffalo SabresConor ShearyMatt Hunwick To St. Louis BluesRyan O'ReillyTo Buffalo SabresPatrik BerglundVladimir SobotkaTage Thompson1st-round pick in 20192nd-round pick in 2021 To Carolina HurricanesCliff Pu2nd-round pick in 20193rd-round pick in 20206th-round pick in 2020To Buffalo SabresJeff Skinner To Nashville PredatorsNicholas BaptisteTo Buffalo SabresJack Dougherty To Dallas StarsTaylor FedunTo Buffalo SabresConditional 7th-round pick in 2020 To Philadelphia FlyersJustin BaileyTo Buffalo SabresTaylor Leier To Anaheim DucksBrendan GuhleConditional 1st-round pick in 2019To Buffalo SabresBrandon Montour To Winnipeg JetsNathan BeaulieuTo Buffalo Sabres6th-round pick in 2019

Free agents Date Player Team Contract term Ref Adam Wilcox to Rochester Americans (AHL) 1-year Seth Griffith to Winnipeg Jets 1-year Carter Hutton from St. Louis Blues 3-year Chad Johnson to St. Louis Blues 1-year Scott Wedgewood from Los Angeles Kings 1-year Viktor Antipin to Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) 3-year Mike Sislo to New York Islanders 1-year Jordan Nolan to St. Louis Blues 1-year Adam Wilcox from Rochester Americans (AHL) 1-year Arttu Ruotsalainen from Ilves (Liiga) 3-year

Waivers Date Player Team Ref Remi Elie from Dallas Stars

Contract terminations Date Player Via Ref Vaclav Karabacek Mutual termination Patrik Berglund Mutual termination

Retirement Date Player Ref

Signings Date Player Contract term Ref Brandon Hickey 2-year Scott Wilson 2-year Rasmus Dahlin 3-year Sean Malone 1-year Justin Bailey 1-year Nicholas Baptiste 1-year Danny O'Regan 1-year C. J. Smith 1-year Sam Reinhart 2-year Matej Pekar 3-year Casey Fitzgerald 2-year Jacob Bryson 3-year Jeff Skinner 8-year

Draft picks

Below are the Buffalo Sabres' selections at the 2018 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)11 Rasmus Dahlin D Sweden Frolunda HC (SHL)232 Mattias Samuelsson D U.S. NTDP (USHL)494 Matej Pekar C Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)41171 Linus Lindstrand Cronholm D Malmo Redhawks J20 (SuperElit)5125 Miska Kukkonen D Ilves U20 (Nuorten SM-liiga)7187 William Worge Kreu D Linkopings HC J20 (SuperElit) Notes: The Minnesota Wild's fourth-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on June 30, 2017 that sent Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and a third-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella and this pick.

References