# 1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1996–97 Buffalo Sabres season was the 27th for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The season was the first season in the newly constructed Marine Midland Arena. The Sabres also underwent a drastic uniform change, replacing the blue and gold colors and classic crest with a black and red color scheme and new white buffalo-head logo. The Sabres won their first Northeast Division title, their first division title in 16 years.

## Regular season

On January 12, 1997, Jason Dawe scored just ten seconds into the overtime period to give the Sabres a 3–2 road win over the Phoenix Coyotes. It would prove to be the fastest overtime goal scored during the 1996–97 NHL regular season.
The Sabres allowed the fewest shorthanded goals (4) and scored the most shorthanded goals (16) in the NHL. The Sabres' power play struggled, as they finished 26th in power-play percentage, with 13.19% (43 for 326). The Sabres were also shut out a league-high 10 times during the regular season.

### Season standings

Northeast Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 237 | 208 | 92 |
| 2 | 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 285 | 280 | 84 |
| 3 | 7 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 226 | 234 | 77 |
| 4 | 8 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 249 | 276 | 77 |
| 5 | 10 | Hartford Whalers | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 226 | 256 | 75 |
| 6 | 13 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 234 | 300 | 61 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 231 | 182 | 104 |
| 2 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 237 | 208 | 92 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 274 | 217 | 103 |
| 4 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 35 | 28 | 19 | 221 | 201 | 89 |
| 5 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 258 | 231 | 86 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 285 | 280 | 84 |
| 7 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 226 | 234 | 77 |
| 8 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 249 | 276 | 77 |
| 9 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 214 | 231 | 75 |
| 10 | Hartford Whalers | NE | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 226 | 256 | 75 |
| 11 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 217 | 247 | 74 |
| 12 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 240 | 250 | 70 |
| 13 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 234 | 300 | 61 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Playoffs

The Sabres defeated the Ottawa Senators in the first round. The series was played to overtime in Game 7. Derek Plante scored the series clinching goal in overtime. The Sabres then lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in five games in the second round.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1996–97 regular season :
October: 5–6–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 4, 19963–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)0–1–0Recap
2LOctober 6, 19960–3@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)0–2–0Recap
3WOctober 9, 19962–1@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)1–2–0Recap
4LOctober 12, 19961–6Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)1–3–0Recap
5LOctober 15, 19960–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)1–4–0Recap
6WOctober 17, 19964–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)2–4–0Recap
7WOctober 18, 19964–1@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)3–4–0Recap
8WOctober 24, 19966–3Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)4–4–0Recap
9WOctober 26, 19966–3Hartford Whalers (1996–97)5–4–0Recap
10LOctober 27, 19964–6@ New York Rangers (1996–97)5–5–0Recap
11LOctober 30, 19960–2@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)5–6–0Recap :
November: 8–5–1 (home: 4–1–0; road: 4–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12WNovember 1, 19964–2@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)6–6–0Recap
13TNovember 2, 19960–0 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)6–6–1Recap
14LNovember 7, 19962–5Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)6–7–1Recap
15LNovember 9, 19963–4 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)6–8–1Recap
16WNovember 11, 19963–2 OTFlorida Panthers (1996–97)7–8–1Recap
17LNovember 12, 19960–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)7–9–1Recap
18WNovember 14, 19965–4Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)8–9–1Recap
19LNovember 19, 19963–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)8–10–1Recap
20WNovember 21, 19966–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)9–10–1Recap
21WNovember 23, 19963–2 OT@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)10–10–1Recap
22LNovember 26, 19963–4@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)10–11–1Recap
23WNovember 27, 19963–0@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)11–11–1Recap
24WNovember 29, 19963–0Ottawa Senators (1996–97)12–11–1Recap
25WNovember 30, 19963–2@ New York Islanders (1996–97)13–11–1Recap :
December: 7–4–2 (home: 4–2–1; road: 3–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 4, 19966–7 OTVancouver Canucks (1996–97)13–12–1Recap
27TDecember 6, 19961–1 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)13–12–2Recap
28LDecember 7, 19964–6@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)13–13–2Recap
29WDecember 11, 19963–2 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)14–13–2Recap
30LDecember 13, 19960–3New York Rangers (1996–97)14–14–2Recap
31WDecember 14, 19964–0@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)15–14–2Recap
32WDecember 18, 19965–3Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)16–14–2Recap
33WDecember 20, 19966–2Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)17–14–2Recap
34WDecember 21, 19963–2@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)18–14–2Recap
35TDecember 23, 19960–0 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)18–14–3Recap
36WDecember 26, 19965–1Hartford Whalers (1996–97)19–14–3Recap
37LDecember 28, 19960–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)19–15–3Recap
38WDecember 31, 19966–5New Jersey Devils (1996–97)20–15–3Recap :
January: 7–4–2 (home: 5–2–1; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39TJanuary 3, 19972–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (1996–97)20–15–4Recap
40WJanuary 5, 19975–1Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)21–15–4Recap
41TJanuary 7, 19971–1 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)21–15–5Recap
42LJanuary 9, 19973–6@ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97)21–16–5Recap
43LJanuary 10, 19972–5@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)21–17–5Recap
44WJanuary 12, 19973–2 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)22–17–5Recap
45WJanuary 15, 19972–1@ New York Islanders (1996–97)23–17–5Recap
46WJanuary 20, 19972–1Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)24–17–5Recap
47WJanuary 22, 19976–1Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)25–17–5Recap
48LJanuary 24, 19971–3Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)25–18–5Recap
49LJanuary 25, 19971–5Hartford Whalers (1996–97)25–19–5Recap
50WJanuary 29, 19973–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)26–19–5Recap
51WJanuary 31, 19973–1Dallas Stars (1996–97)27–19–5Recap :
February: 5–1–5 (home: 4–0–4; road: 1–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
52TFebruary 2, 19972–2 OTWashington Capitals (1996–97)27–19–6Recap
53TFebruary 4, 19971–1 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)27–19–7Recap
54TFebruary 6, 19971–1 OTFlorida Panthers (1996–97)27–19–8Recap
55WFebruary 8, 19973–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)28–19–8Recap
56WFebruary 9, 19972–1Ottawa Senators (1996–97)29–19–8Recap
57TFebruary 12, 19972–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1996–97)29–19–9Recap
58WFebruary 16, 19976–2San Jose Sharks (1996–97)30–19–9Recap
59TFebruary 18, 19975–5 OTCalgary Flames (1996–97)30–19–10Recap
60WFebruary 21, 19975–2New York Islanders (1996–97)31–19–10Recap
61WFebruary 23, 19975–1Boston Bruins (1996–97)32–19–10Recap
62LFebruary 27, 19971–4@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)32–20–10Recap :
March: 6–6–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 3–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
63WMarch 1, 19973–1@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)33–20–10Recap
64WMarch 5, 19974–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)34–20–10Recap
65TMarch 8, 19973–3 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)34–20–11Recap
66LMarch 9, 19971–4New Jersey Devils (1996–97)34–21–11Recap
67WMarch 11, 19973–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1996–97)35–21–11Recap
68WMarch 15, 19977–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)36–21–11Recap
69WMarch 17, 19975–1Boston Bruins (1996–97)37–21–11Recap
70LMarch 18, 19973–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)37–22–11Recap
71WMarch 21, 19974–1@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)38–22–11Recap
72LMarch 22, 19972–3@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)38–23–11Recap
73LMarch 26, 19972–3 OTNew York Islanders (1996–97)38–24–11Recap
74LMarch 28, 19971–2 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)38–25–11Recap
75LMarch 30, 19972–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)38–26–11Recap :
April: 2–4–1 (home: 1–2–0; road: 1–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76TApril 1, 19971–1 OT@ New York Rangers (1996–97)38–26–12Recap
77LApril 2, 19970–2Ottawa Senators (1996–97)38–27–12Recap
78WApril 4, 19975–1New York Rangers (1996–97)39–27–12Recap
79LApril 7, 19972–4@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)39–28–12Recap
80WApril 10, 19975–1@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)40–28–12Recap
81LApril 12, 19970–1@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)40–29–12Recap
82LApril 13, 19973–8Washington Capitals (1996–97)40–30–12Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (7) Ottawa Senators – Sabres win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 17, 19973–1Ottawa SenatorsSabres lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 19, 19971–3Ottawa SenatorsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WApril 21, 19973–2@ Ottawa SenatorsSabres lead 2–1Recap
4LApril 23, 19970–1 OT@ Ottawa SenatorsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LApril 25, 19971–4Ottawa SenatorsSenators lead 3–2Recap
6WApril 27, 19973–0@ Ottawa SenatorsSeries tied 3–3Recap
7WApril 29, 19973–2 OTOttawa SenatorsSabres win 4–3Recap :
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers – Flyers win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LMay 3, 19973–5Philadelphia FlyersFlyers lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 5, 19971–2Philadelphia FlyersFlyers lead 2–0Recap
3LMay 7, 19971–4@ Philadelphia FlyersFlyers lead 3–0Recap
4WMay 9, 19975–4 OT@ Philadelphia FlyersFlyers lead 3–1Recap
5LMay 11, 19973–6Philadelphia 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 |
| 26 | Derek Plante | C | 82 | 27 | 26 | 53 | 14 | 24 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 4 |
| 19 | Brian Holzinger | C | 81 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 9 | 54 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −3 | 8 |
| 28 | Donald Audette | RW | 73 | 28 | 22 | 50 | −6 | 48 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 9 | −3 | 6 |
| 27 | Michael Peca | C | 79 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 26 | 80 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −3 | 8 |
| 17 | Jason Dawe | RW | 81 | 22 | 26 | 48 | 14 | 32 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 6 |
| 15 | Dixon Ward | RW | 79 | 13 | 32 | 45 | 17 | 36 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| 36 | Matthew Barnaby | RW | 68 | 19 | 24 | 43 | 16 | 249 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 36 |
| 3 | Garry Galley | D | 71 | 4 | 34 | 38 | 10 | 102 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 14 |
| 18 | Michal Grosek | LW | 82 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 25 | 71 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 44 | Alexei Zhitnik | D | 80 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 10 | 95 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −9 | 16 |
| 12 | Randy Burridge | LW | 55 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 17 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 2 |
| 42 | Richard Smehlik | D | 62 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 19 | 43 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Darryl Shannon | D | 82 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 112 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −1 | 8 |
| 4 | Mike Wilson | D | 77 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 51 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 81 | Miroslav Satan† | LW | 12 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 32 | Rob Ray | RW | 82 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 286 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 28 |
| 74 | Jay McKee | D | 43 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Pat LaFontaine | C | 13 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 38 | Barrie Moore‡ | LW | 31 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Bob Boughner | D | 77 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 225 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 37 | Curtis Brown | C | 28 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Brad May | LW | 42 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −8 | 106 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 32 |
| 76 | Wayne Primeau | C | 45 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 64 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 6 |
| 93 | Anatoli Semenov | C | 25 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Ed Ronan | RW | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 6 |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | G | 67 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 22 | Charlie Huddy | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | Rumun Ndur | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Steve Shields | G | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 9 |
| 30 | Andrei Trefilov | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 25 | Vaclav Varada | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### 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 |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | 67 | 37 | 20 | 10 | 2177 | 153 | 2.27 | .930 | 5 | 4037 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 68 | 5 | 1.96 | .926 | 0 | 153 |
| 31 | Steve Shields | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 447 | 39 | 2.96 | .913 | 0 | 789 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 334 | 26 | 2.74 | .922 | 1 | 570 |
| 30 | Andrei Trefilov | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 98 | 10 | 3.78 | .898 | 0 | 159 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | 0 | 5 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Hart Memorial Trophy | Dominik Hasek |
| League (annual) | Frank J. Selke Trophy | Michael Peca |
| League (annual) | Jack Adams Award | Ted Nolan |
| League (annual) | Lester B. Pearson Award | Dominik Hasek |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Seymour H. Knox III |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Pat LaFontaine |
| League (annual) | NHL First All-Star team | Dominik Hasek (Goaltender) |
| League (annual) | Vezina Trophy | Dominik Hasek |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dominik Hasek |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
| First game | Rumun Ndur | November 9, 1996 | |

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Erik Rasmussen | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 2 | 27 | Cory Sarich | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 2 | 33 | Darren Van Oene | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 3 | 54 | Francois Methot | Canada | Saint-Hyacinthe Laser (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 87 | Kurt Walsh | Canada | Owen Sound Platers (OHL) |
| 4 | 106 | Mike Martone | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 5 | 115 | Alexei Tezikov | Russia | Lada Togliatti (Russia) |
| 6 | 142 | Ryan Davis | Canada | Owen Sound Platers (OHL) |
| 6 | 161 | Darren Mortier | Canada | Sarnia Sting (OHL) |
| 9 | 222 | Scott Buhler | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |