# 1999–2000 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1999–2000 Buffalo Sabres season was the 30th for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The season saw the Sabres qualify for the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs, but lose in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers.

## Regular season

The Sabres struggled on the power-play, scoring only 37 power-play goals (tied for 28th with Phoenix Coyotes) and finishing 28th in power-play percentage (10.54%).

### Final standings

Northeast Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 45 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 246 | 222 | 100 |
| 2 | 6 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 2 | 244 | 210 | 95 |
| 3 | 8 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 35 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 213 | 204 | 85 |
| 4 | 10 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 35 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 196 | 194 | 83 |
| 5 | 11 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 24 | 33 | 19 | 6 | 210 | 248 | 73 |
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | z – Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 45 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 237 | 179 | 105 |
| 2 | y – Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 44 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 227 | 194 | 102 |
| 3 | y – Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 45 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 246 | 222 | 100 |
| 4 | New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 45 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 251 | 203 | 103 |
| 5 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 43 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 244 | 209 | 98 |
| 6 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 2 | 244 | 210 | 95 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 37 | 31 | 8 | 6 | 241 | 236 | 88 |
| 8 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 35 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 213 | 204 | 85 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 0 | 217 | 216 | 84 |
| 10 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 35 | 34 | 9 | 4 | 196 | 194 | 83 |
| 11 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 29 | 38 | 12 | 3 | 218 | 246 | 73 |
| 12 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 24 | 33 | 19 | 6 | 210 | 248 | 73 |
| 13 | New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 24 | 48 | 9 | 1 | 194 | 275 | 58 |
| 14 | Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 19 | 47 | 9 | 7 | 204 | 310 | 54 |
| 15 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 14 | 57 | 7 | 4 | 170 | 313 | 39 |
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs; z – Won conference; y – Won division

## Playoffs

The Sabres lost the Conference Quarterfinals (4–1) versus the Philadelphia Flyers.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1999–2000 regular season :
October: 3–7–2–0 (home: 3–2–1–0; road: 0–5–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 2, 19990–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1999–2000)0–1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 8, 19992–3Washington Capitals (1999–2000)0–2–0–0Recap
3TOctober 9, 19995–5 OT@ Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000)0–2–1–0Recap
4TOctober 11, 19992–2 OTPhoenix Coyotes (1999–2000)0–2–2–0Recap
5LOctober 16, 19991–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1999–2000)0–3–2–0Recap
6LOctober 17, 19992–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1999–2000)0–4–2–0Recap
7LOctober 20, 19993–4Nashville Predators (1999–2000)0–5–2–0Recap
8WOctober 22, 19997–3Carolina Hurricanes (1999–2000)1–5–2–0Recap
9LOctober 23, 19990–4@ Ottawa Senators (1999–2000)1–6–2–0Recap
10WOctober 27, 19994–3Tampa Bay Lightning (1999–2000)2–6–2–0Recap
11WOctober 29, 19993–2 OTFlorida Panthers (1999–2000)3–6–2–0Recap
12LOctober 30, 19990–3@ Boston Bruins (1999–2000)3–7–2–0Recap :
November: 8–5–0–0 (home: 4–2–0–0; road: 4–3–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13WNovember 3, 19993–1@ Dallas Stars (1999–2000)4–7–2–0Recap
14WNovember 4, 19995–4 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (1999–2000)5–7–2–0Recap
15WNovember 6, 19992–1New York Islanders (1999–2000)6–7–2–0Recap
16WNovember 10, 19996–2Boston Bruins (1999–2000)7–7–2–0Recap
17LNovember 12, 19992–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1999–2000)7–8–2–0Recap
18LNovember 13, 19991–3@ Florida Panthers (1999–2000)7–9–2–0Recap
19LNovember 16, 19992–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1999–2000)7–10–2–0Recap
20WNovember 19, 19994–0@ Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000)8–10–2–0Recap
21WNovember 20, 19994–3Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000)9–10–2–0Recap
22WNovember 24, 19995–2Washington Capitals (1999–2000)10–10–2–0Recap
23LNovember 26, 19990–2St. Louis Blues (1999–2000)10–11–2–0Recap
24WNovember 28, 19993–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1999–2000)11–11–2–0Recap
25LNovember 30, 19991–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1999–2000)11–12–2–0Recap :
December: 4–4–3–1 (home: 3–3–2–0; road: 1–1–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 2, 19992–4Philadelphia Flyers (1999–2000)11–13–2–0Recap
27TDecember 4, 19991–1 OTNew York Rangers (1999–2000)11–13–3–0Recap
28OTLDecember 6, 19992–3 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1999–2000)11–13–3–1Recap
29TDecember 8, 19990–0 OTOttawa Senators (1999–2000)11–13–4–1Recap
30WDecember 10, 19992–1Chicago Blackhawks (1999–2000)12–13–4–1Recap
31WDecember 14, 19993–1Philadelphia Flyers (1999–2000)13–13–4–1Recap
32LDecember 17, 19992–4Florida Panthers (1999–2000)13–14–4–1Recap
33TDecember 18, 19992–2 OT@ New York Islanders (1999–2000)13–14–5–1Recap
34WDecember 21, 19993–1@ New York Rangers (1999–2000)14–14–5–1Recap
35WDecember 23, 19992–1Colorado Avalanche (1999–2000)15–14–5–1Recap
36LDecember 27, 19991–4@ New Jersey Devils (1999–2000)15–15–5–1Recap
37LDecember 28, 19992–7Detroit Red Wings (1999–2000)15–16–5–1Recap :
January: 5–8–1–0 (home: 3–3–0–0; road: 2–5–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38WJanuary 1, 20008–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1999–2000)16–16–5–1Recap
39LJanuary 3, 20002–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1999–2000)16–17–5–1Recap
40LJanuary 4, 20004–5Atlanta Thrashers (1999–2000)16–18–5–1Recap
41LJanuary 6, 20003–6New Jersey Devils (1999–2000)16–19–5–1Recap
42WJanuary 8, 20007–4@ Ottawa Senators (1999–2000)17–19–5–1Recap
43TJanuary 13, 20000–0 OT@ Boston Bruins (1999–2000)17–19–6–1Recap
44LJanuary 14, 20001–2Montreal Canadiens (1999–2000)17–20–6–1Recap
45WJanuary 17, 20005–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1999–2000)18–20–6–1Recap
46LJanuary 18, 20003–5@ Los Angeles Kings (1999–2000)18–21–6–1Recap
47LJanuary 20, 20001–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (1999–2000)18–22–6–1Recap
48LJanuary 22, 20001–4@ Carolina Hurricanes (1999–2000)18–23–6–1Recap
49WJanuary 25, 20002–1Tampa Bay Lightning (1999–2000)19–23–6–1Recap
50WJanuary 28, 20001–0Ottawa Senators (1999–2000)20–23–6–1Recap
51LJanuary 29, 20000–1@ Boston Bruins (1999–2000)20–24–6–1Recap :
February: 6–3–3–1 (home: 3–2–2–0; road: 3–1–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
52TFebruary 1, 20002–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1999–2000)20–24–7–1Recap
53WFebruary 3, 20004–2Ottawa Senators (1999–2000)21–24–7–1Recap
54WFebruary 8, 20002–0@ Colorado Avalanche (1999–2000)22–24–7–1Recap
55WFebruary 10, 20002–1 OT@ Nashville Predators (1999–2000)23–24–7–1Recap
56OTLFebruary 12, 20002–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1999–2000)23–24–7–2Recap
57TFebruary 13, 20002–2 OTEdmonton Oilers (1999–2000)23–24–8–2Recap
58TFebruary 16, 20001–1 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1999–2000)23–24–9–2Recap
59LFebruary 17, 20001–2Vancouver Canucks (1999–2000)23–25–9–2Recap
60WFebruary 19, 20004–1Los Angeles Kings (1999–2000)24–25–9–2Recap
61WFebruary 21, 20003–2New Jersey Devils (1999–2000)25–25–9–2Recap
62LFebruary 25, 20003–6New York Rangers (1999–2000)25–26–9–2Recap
63LFebruary 26, 20002–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1999–2000)25–27–9–2Recap
64WFebruary 28, 20005–2@ Florida Panthers (1999–2000)26–27–9–2Recap :
March: 6–5–1–1 (home: 4–2–0–0; road: 2–3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
65TMarch 1, 20003–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1999–2000)26–27–10–2Recap
66LMarch 4, 20002–4@ New York Islanders (1999–2000)26–28–10–2Recap
67LMarch 5, 20001–2@ Washington Capitals (1999–2000)26–29–10–2Recap
68WMarch 8, 20002–1 OTBoston Bruins (1999–2000)27–29–10–2Recap
69LMarch 10, 20002–3Montreal Canadiens (1999–2000)27–30–10–2Recap
70WMarch 12, 20004–2New York Islanders (1999–2000)28–30–10–2Recap
71OTLMarch 15, 20005–6 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1999–2000)28–30–10–3Recap
72LMarch 16, 20003–6@ Vancouver Canucks (1999–2000)28–31–10–3Recap
73WMarch 18, 20005–1@ Calgary Flames (1999–2000)29–31–10–3Recap
74WMarch 20, 20004–1Montreal Canadiens (1999–2000)30–31–10–3Recap
75WMarch 23, 20004–2Calgary Flames (1999–2000)31–31–10–3Recap
76WMarch 27, 20005–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (1999–2000)32–31–10–3Recap
77LMarch 31, 20001–3Carolina Hurricanes (1999–2000)32–32–10–3Recap :
April: 3–0–1–1 (home: 1–0–0–1; road: 2–0–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
78WApril 1, 20002–0@ Montreal Canadiens (1999–2000)33–32–10–3Recap
79WApril 3, 20003–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1999–2000)34–32–10–3Recap
80WApril 6, 20005–0@ New Jersey Devils (1999–2000)35–32–10–3Recap
81OTLApril 7, 20001–2 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1999–2000)35–32–10–4Recap
82TApril 9, 20001–1 OT@ Washington Capitals (1999–2000)35–32–11–4Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

### Playoffs

2000 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (1) Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 13, 20002–3@ Philadelphia FlyersFlyers lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 14, 20001–2@ Philadelphia FlyersFlyers lead 2–0Recap
3LApril 16, 20000–2Philadelphia FlyersFlyers lead 3–0Recap
4WApril 18, 20003–2 OTPhiladelphia FlyersFlyers lead 3–1Recap
5LApril 20, 20002–5@ Philadelphia FlyersFlyers win 4–1Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 81 | Miroslav Satan | LW | 81 | 33 | 34 | 67 | 16 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 37 | Curtis Brown | C | 74 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 19 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 41 | Stu Barnes | C | 82 | 20 | 25 | 45 | −3 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | −1 | 2 |
| 27 | Michael Peca | C | 73 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 6 | 67 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 25 | Vaclav Varada | RW | 76 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 12 | 62 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 61 | Maxim Afinogenov | RW | 65 | 16 | 18 | 34 | −4 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 2 |
| 18 | Michal Grosek‡ | LW | 61 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 12 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Jason Woolley | D | 74 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 14 | 52 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | Geoff Sanderson | LW | 67 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 19 | Brian Holzinger‡ | C | 59 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 4 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Dixon Ward | RW | 71 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 29 | Vladimir Tsyplakov† | LW | 34 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 74 | Jay McKee | D | 78 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 93 | Doug Gilmour† | C | 11 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 9 | Erik Rasmussen | C | 67 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 43 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | James Patrick | D | 66 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 44 | Alexei Zhitnik | D | 74 | 2 | 11 | 13 | −6 | 95 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 8 |
| 22 | Wayne Primeau‡ | C | 41 | 5 | 7 | 12 | −8 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42 | Richard Smehlik | D | 64 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 50 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | Chris Gratton† | C | 14 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 51 | Brian Campbell | D | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32 | Rob Ray | RW | 69 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 158 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Cory Sarich‡ | D | 42 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | Rhett Warrener | D | 61 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 16 | Chris Taylor | C | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 55 | Denis Hamel | LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | Domenic Pittis | C | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | G | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 20 | Jason Holland | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | Martin Biron | G | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre | D | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 20 | Doug Houda | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | Mike Hurlbut | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 45 | Dmitri Kalinin | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Paul Kruse | LW | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 64 | David Moravec | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Dwayne Roloson | G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 43 | Martin Biron | 41 | 19 | 18 | 2 | 988 | 90 | 2.42 | .909 | 5 | 2229 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | 35 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 937 | 76 | 2.21 | .919 | 3 | 2066 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 147 | 12 | 2.39 | .918 | 0 | 301 |
| 30 | Dwayne Roloson | 14 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 277 | 32 | 2.84 | .884 | 0 | 677 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dominik Hasek |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Miroslav Satan |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Martin Biron (November 8) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Dominik Hasek (April 10) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Brian Campbell | October 2, 1999 |
| First game | David Moravec | October 2, 1999 |
| First game | Maxim Afinogenov | November 10, 1999 |
| First game | Dmitri Kalinin | January 4, 2000 |
| First game | Denis Hamel | January 6, 2000 |
| 1,000th game played | James Patrick | December 4, 1999 |

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft held at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 20 | Barrett Heisten | United States | University of Maine (Hockey East) |
| 2 | 35 | Milan Bartovic | Czech Republic | Dukla Trenčín Jr. (Slovakia) |
| 2 | 55 | Doug Janik | United States | University of Maine (Hockey East) |
| 2 | 64 | Mike Zigomanis | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 3 | 73 | Tim Preston | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 4 | 117 | Karel Mosovsky | Czech Republic | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 5 | 138 | Ryan Miller | United States | Michigan State University (CCHA) |
| 5 | 146 | Matt Kinch | Canada | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 6 | 178 | Seneque Hyacinthe | Canada | Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 206 | Bret DeCecco | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 8 | 235 | Brad Self | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 9 | 263 | Craig Brunel | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |