What is Buffalo Sabres' longest losing streak? Revisiting the New York franchise's unfortunate NHL record

The Buffalo Sabres are the unfortunate holders of one of the NHL’s most ignominious records. During the 2020-21 season, the Sabres lost 18 straight games, tied with the 2003-04 Pittsburgh Penguins for the longest losing streak in league history.

That season was a bitter one for the Sabres. The team was in the midst of a rebuild that saw them accumulate draft picks and prospects but very little in the way of team success.

The 2020-21 season had seen the NHL rearrange divisions due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Sabres were in a packed East Division with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders, leaving the Sabres dead-last with 37 points in 56 games.

However, the low point was the 18-game losing streak. The NHL record book lists the losing streak at 14 given that it only takes regulation losses into account. But when adding overtime and shootout losses, the streak extends to 18 games.

The main difference between the 2020-21 Sabres and the 2003-04 Penguins is that new overtime and shootout rules were introduced ahead of the 2005-06 season. As such, the Penguins had all regulation and overtime losses (without the loser point), while the Sabres included shootout and overtime losses that included the loser point.

The Sabres’ dubious streak started with a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 25, 2021, and ended with a 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on March 31, 2021. Sabres fans celebrated the end of the streak, as it marked the end of the lowest point in another lost season for Buffalo.

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The numbers behind the Buffalo Sabres’ 18-game losing streak

During the Buffalo Sabres’ 18-game losing streak, they went 0-15-3. They scored 30 goals and gave up 74 for a -44 goal differential.

The Buffalo Sabres managed just three power play goals but gave up only seven during the streak. However, they were outshot 613-464, getting shutout five times.

The Philadelphia Flyers shut out the Sabres 3-0 in back-to-back games, also suffering consecutive shutouts to the Penguins and the Capitals, respectively. The 6-0 loss to the Capitals on Mar. 15, 2021, was the most lopsided defeat of the streak.

Moreover, the New York Islanders beat the Sabres 5-2 in three straight games, with Buffalo losing four times against the Pens and the Flyers. The Sabres eventually got their revenge on the Flyers, winning 6-1 on March 31, 2021, to end the streak.

The Buffalo Sabres’ “reward” that season was the first overall pick used to select Owen Power, who has played 193 games for the Sabres, scoring 16 goals and adding 90 assists. So, if there was a bright spot to an otherwise sour season for the Sabres, it was landing Power.