Buffalo Sabres Playoff History

The Buffalo Sabres, a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York, compete in NHL's Eastern Conference as a member of the Atlantic Division as of 2024. Established as an expansion team in 1970, the Sabres quickly made their mark with the "French Connection" line led by Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and René Robert. Despite early success, including a division championship in 1974–75, they unfortunately fell short in the Stanley Cup finals against the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975.

Moreover, the Sabres have been playing at the KeyBank Center since 1996, which is presently the largest indoor arena in Western New York with a seating capacity of 19,070. In terms of achievements, they have claimed six Division Championships and three Conference Championships. They also added a Presidents’ Trophy to their collection in 2007. Unfortunately, they also hold an unwanted NHL record to their name, with an active playoff drought of 13 seasons which stands as the longest playoff drought in the NHL and professional sports.

Buffalo Sabres NHL Playoff History and Appearances

Established as an expansion team in 1970, the Sabres quickly made their mark with the "French Connection" line led by Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and René Robert. Despite early success, including a division championship in 1974–75, they fell short in the Stanley Cup finals against the Philadelphia Flyers. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the Sabres saw playoff appearances but struggled to advance far.

The acquisition of goaltender Dominik Hašek in 1992 sparked new hope, leading to a conference finals berth in 1997. In 1998–99, they reached their second Stanley Cup finals but controversially lost to the Dallas Stars. Subsequent years saw ups and downs, including playoff appearances and rebuilding efforts, with standout performances from goaltender Ryan Miller.

A table exploring Buffalo Sabres’ playoff history and appearances is provided below:

Buffalo Sabres Conference History

The Buffalo Sabres have a diverse conference history in the NHL, marked by both successes and challenges. Since their establishment as an expansion team in 1970, the Sabres have competed in the Eastern Conference. Notable moments include their two conference championships in 1975 and 1999. Led by stars like Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and René Robert, known as the "French Connection," the Sabres made their first postseason appearance in 1972–73 and clinched a division championship in 1974–75. Despite early achievements, including reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 1975, they faced difficulties in advancing further. The acquisition of goaltender Dominik Hašek in 1992 brought renewed hope, leading to a conference finals berth in 1997 and another Stanley Cup finals appearance in 1999. However, they controversially lost the finals to the Dallas Stars.

The Buffalo Sabres have had a rollercoaster journey in the NHL. They started with struggles but saw success in reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975. They had playoff appearances in the late 1970s and 1980s but faced challenges in advancing. The late 1990s brought playoff runs, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999. However, they couldn't secure the title. In the 2000s, they made playoff appearances but struggled to go deep. They reached the conference finals in 2006–07 but fell short. Since then, they've faced difficulties, missing the playoffs for many seasons. Despite intermittent successes, they've yet to recapture their earlier glory.

A table exploring Buffalo Sabres' Conference History along with their results is provided below:

The Sabres have clinched the conference championship a total of 3 times, in the seasons 1974–75, 1979–80, and 1998–99.

Buffalo Sabres Division History

The Buffalo Sabres have had a varied divisional history in the NHL since their inception in 1970. Initially, they competed in different divisions before the league's realignment. Notable periods include their early success in the Adams Division during the 1970s, where they clinched division championships and made deep playoff runs. The acquisition of star goaltender Dominik Hašek in the 1990s coincided with their dominance in the Northeast Division, leading to consecutive division titles and playoff appearances. However, the Sabres also faced challenges and rebuilding phases, resulting in fluctuations in their divisional standings. Following subsequent realignments, they continued to compete in different divisions within the Eastern Conference, experiencing both highs and lows in their divisional history in the NHL.

The team's fortunes have been inconsistent, with several playoff misses and early exits in the 2000s and 2010s. They had a period of success in the late 1990s, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1999. However, they've struggled to replicate that success, with only sporadic playoff appearances since then. In the 1970s and early 1980s, they had some playoff success, reaching the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals, but they've faced challenges in recent decades.

A table exploring the Buffalo Sabres' division history along with their regular season records is provided below:

The Sabres have claimed the division championship 6 times, showcasing their success within their division. Their division titles were achieved in the seasons 1974–75, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1996–97, 2006–07, and 2009–10.