# 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 26th season in the National Hockey League. This was the team's final season at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, their home arena since 1970. They moved to Marine Midland Arena, which is now known as the KeyBank Center. However, the Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1987.

## Regular season

The Sabres had the most power-play opportunities during the regular season with 477.

### Season standings

Northeast Division :
| No. | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 49 | 29 | 4 | 362 | 284 | 102 |
| 2 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 282 | 269 | 91 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 40 | 32 | 10 | 265 | 248 | 90 |
| 4 | Hartford Whalers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 237 | 259 | 77 |
| 5 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 33 | 42 | 7 | 247 | 262 | 72 |
| 6 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 18 | 59 | 5 | 191 | 291 | 41 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 282 | 208 | 103 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 49 | 29 | 4 | 362 | 284 | 102 |
| 3 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 41 | 27 | 14 | 272 | 237 | 96 |
| 4 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 254 | 234 | 92 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 282 | 269 | 91 |
| 6 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 40 | 32 | 10 | 265 | 248 | 90 |
| 7 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 39 | 32 | 11 | 234 | 204 | 89 |
| 8 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 38 | 32 | 12 | 238 | 248 | 88 |
| 9 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 215 | 202 | 86 |
| 10 | Hartford Whalers | NE | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 237 | 259 | 77 |
| 11 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 33 | 42 | 7 | 247 | 262 | 73 |
| 12 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 22 | 50 | 10 | 229 | 315 | 54 |
| 13 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 18 | 59 | 5 | 191 | 291 | 41 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results

1995–96 regular season :
October: 3–7–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 7, 19953–1@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 9, 19953–5@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)1–1–0Recap
3LOctober 13, 19951–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)1–2–0Recap
4LOctober 15, 19953–4New Jersey Devils (1995–96)1–3–0Recap
5WOctober 18, 19954–1Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)2–3–0Recap
6LOctober 20, 19951–3New York Rangers (1995–96)2–4–0Recap
7WOctober 22, 19955–2St. Louis Blues (1995–96)3–4–0Recap
8LOctober 24, 19950–3@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)3–5–0Recap
9LOctober 27, 19954–5@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)3–6–0Recap
10LOctober 29, 19953–6@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)3–7–0Recap :
November: 7–4–2 (home: 4–1–2; road: 3–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11WNovember 1, 19952–1Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)4–7–0Recap
12TNovember 3, 19953–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)4–7–1Recap
13LNovember 5, 19953–4Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)4–8–1Recap
14WNovember 8, 19957–2San Jose Sharks (1995–96)5–8–1Recap
15LNovember 11, 19951–4@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)5–9–1Recap
16WNovember 12, 19956–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)6–9–1Recap
17WNovember 15, 19952–1Dallas Stars (1995–96)7–9–1Recap
18WNovember 18, 19955–4@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)8–9–1Recap
19WNovember 19, 19956–0Ottawa Senators (1995–96)9–9–1Recap
20TNovember 24, 19951–1 OTNew York Islanders (1995–96)9–9–2Recap
21LNovember 25, 19953–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)9–10–2Recap
22WNovember 27, 19952–0@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)10–10–2Recap
23LNovember 29, 19953–5@ New York Rangers (1995–96)10–11–2Recap :
December: 6–8–1 (home: 4–5–1; road: 2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
24WDecember 1, 19952–1Hartford Whalers (1995–96)11–11–2Recap
25LDecember 2, 19954–6@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)11–12–2Recap
26LDecember 7, 19953–7@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)11–13–2Recap
27TDecember 8, 19952–2 OTWashington Capitals (1995–96)11–13–3Recap
28LDecember 11, 19951–6Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)11–14–3Recap
29WDecember 13, 19954–3Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)12–14–3Recap
30WDecember 15, 19955–4New York Rangers (1995–96)13–14–3Recap
31WDecember 16, 19953–2@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)14–14–3Recap
32WDecember 20, 19952–1Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)15–14–3Recap
33LDecember 22, 19952–3 OTBoston Bruins (1995–96)15–15–3Recap
34WDecember 23, 19954–2@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)16–15–3Recap
35LDecember 26, 19953–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)16–16–3Recap
36LDecember 27, 19953–4Ottawa Senators (1995–96)16–17–3Recap
37LDecember 29, 19952–5Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)16–18–3Recap
38LDecember 31, 19952–5New York Islanders (1995–96)16–19–3Recap :
January: 4–7–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 1–6–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39WJanuary 5, 19963–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)17–19–3Recap
40WJanuary 6, 19967–6@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)18–19–3Recap
41LJanuary 10, 19961–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)18–20–3Recap
42LJanuary 12, 19961–3@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)18–21–3Recap
43LJanuary 13, 19964–5 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)18–22–3Recap
44LJanuary 17, 19960–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)18–23–3Recap
45WJanuary 24, 19964–2Hartford Whalers (1995–96)19–23–3Recap
46LJanuary 26, 19960–1@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)19–24–3Recap
47LJanuary 27, 19963–6@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)19–25–3Recap
48LJanuary 30, 19964–5 OT@ New York Islanders (1995–96)19–26–3Recap
49WJanuary 31, 19966–1Florida Panthers (1995–96)20–26–3Recap :
February: 6–3–3 (home: 4–1–2; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
50LFebruary 3, 19962–4@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)20–27–3Recap
51LFebruary 4, 19962–5Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)20–28–3Recap
52WFebruary 7, 19962–1 OTBoston Bruins (1995–96)21–28–3Recap
53WFebruary 8, 19962–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)22–28–3Recap
54TFebruary 10, 19962–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)22–28–4Recap
55TFebruary 14, 19962–2 OTLos Angeles Kings (1995–96)22–28–5Recap
56TFebruary 16, 19962–2 OTNew Jersey Devils (1995–96)22–28–6Recap
57LFebruary 17, 19961–2 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)22–29–6Recap
58WFebruary 21, 19966–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)23–29–6Recap
59WFebruary 23, 19967–2Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)24–29–6Recap
60WFebruary 25, 19966–1Florida Panthers (1995–96)25–29–6Recap
61WFebruary 28, 19963–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)26–29–6Recap :
March: 2–11–1 (home: 0–5–0; road: 2–6–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62TMarch 1, 19963–3 OT@ New York Rangers (1995–96)26–29–7Recap
63LMarch 3, 19960–3Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)26–30–7Recap
64LMarch 6, 19962–5@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)26–31–7Recap
65LMarch 8, 19962–3 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)26–32–7Recap
66LMarch 10, 19964–6@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)26–33–7Recap
67WMarch 13, 19966–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)27–33–7Recap
68LMarch 15, 19961–3Calgary Flames (1995–96)27–34–7Recap
69LMarch 16, 19961–2@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)27–35–7Recap
70LMarch 18, 19962–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)27–36–7Recap
71LMarch 22, 19961–4Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)27–37–7Recap
72WMarch 23, 19967–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)28–37–7Recap
73LMarch 27, 19962–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)28–38–7Recap
74LMarch 29, 19965–6 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1995–96)28–39–7Recap
75LMarch 31, 19965–6Boston Bruins (1995–96)28–40–7Recap :
April: 5–2–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 3–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76WApril 1, 19966–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)29–40–7Recap
77LApril 3, 19961–5Washington Capitals (1995–96)29–41–7Recap
78WApril 5, 19964–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)30–41–7Recap
79LApril 6, 19960–3@ New York Islanders (1995–96)30–42–7Recap
80WApril 10, 19965–2Ottawa Senators (1995–96)31–42–7Recap
81WApril 13, 19963–2@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)32–42–7Recap
82WApril 14, 19964–1Hartford Whalers (1995–96)33–42–7Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## 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 |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 16 | Pat LaFontaine | C | 76 | 40 | 51 | 91 | −8 | 36 |
| 12 | Randy Burridge | LW | 74 | 25 | 33 | 58 | 0 | 30 |
| 26 | Derek Plante | C | 76 | 23 | 33 | 56 | −4 | 28 |
| 3 | Garry Galley | D | 78 | 10 | 44 | 54 | −2 | 81 |
| 43 | Jason Dawe | RW | 67 | 25 | 25 | 50 | −8 | 33 |
| 10 | Brad May | LW | 79 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 6 | 295 |
| 44 | Alexei Zhitnik | D | 80 | 6 | 30 | 36 | −25 | 58 |
| 36 | Matthew Barnaby | RW | 73 | 15 | 16 | 31 | −2 | 335 |
| 27 | Michael Peca | C | 68 | 11 | 20 | 31 | −1 | 67 |
| 13 | Yuri Khmylev‡ | LW | 66 | 8 | 20 | 28 | −12 | 40 |
| 28 | Donald Audette | RW | 23 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 0 | 18 |
| 19 | Brian Holzinger | C | 58 | 10 | 10 | 20 | −21 | 37 |
| 21 | Mark Astley | D | 60 | 2 | 18 | 20 | −12 | 80 |
| 41 | Dave Hannan‡ | C | 57 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 2 | 30 |
| 17 | Brent Hughes | LW | 76 | 5 | 10 | 15 | −9 | 148 |
| 34 | Mike Wilson | D | 58 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 41 |
| 18 | Michal Grosek† | LW | 22 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
| 22 | Charlie Huddy‡ | D | 52 | 5 | 5 | 10 | −5 | 59 |
| 24 | Dane Jackson | RW | 22 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 41 |
| 32 | Rob Ray | RW | 71 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −8 | 287 |
| 8 | Darryl Shannon† | D | 26 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 20 |
| 25 | Rob Conn | W | 28 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −9 | 18 |
| 8 | Doug Bodger‡ | D | 16 | 0 | 5 | 5 | −6 | 18 |
| 33 | Scott Pearson | LW | 27 | 4 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 67 |
| 15 | Dixon Ward | RW | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | Doug Houda | D | 38 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 52 |
| 5 | Craig Muni‡ | D | 47 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −12 | 69 |
| 4 | Bob Boughner† | D | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 104 |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | G | 59 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 6 |
| 38 | Jay McKee | D | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 00 | Martin Biron | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 1 | John Blue† | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 37 | Curtis Brown | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Grant Jennings | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 28 |
| 37 | Barrie Moore | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | Scott Nichol | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 76 | Wayne Primeau | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Steve Shields | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 30 | Andrei Trefilov | G | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 9 | Vaclav Varada† | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | 59 | 22 | 30 | 6 | 2011 | 161 | 2.83 | .920 | 2 | 3417 |
| 30 | Andrei Trefilov | 22 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 660 | 64 | 3.51 | .903 | 0 | 1094 |
| 1 | John Blue† | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 137 | 15 | 3.52 | .891 | 0 | 255 |
| 31 | Steve Shields | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 4 | 3.19 | .875 | 0 | 75 |
| 00 | Martin Biron | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 10 | 5.05 | .844 | 0 | 119 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dominik Hasek | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Mike Wilson | November 18, 1995 |
| First game | Steve Shields | December 23, 1995 |
| First game | Martin Biron | December 26, 1995 |
| First game | Bob Boughner | February 3, 1996 |
| First game | Barrie Moore | April 5, 1996 |
| First game | Jay McKee | April 10, 1996 |
| First game | Scott Nichol | April 13, 1996 |
| First game | Vaclav Varada | April 14, 1996 |
| 1,000th game played | Charlie Huddy | March 8, 1996 |

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 14 | Jay McKee | Canada | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) |
| 1 | 16 | Martin Biron | Canada | Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 42 | Mark Dutiaume | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 3 | 68 | Mathieu Sunderland | Canada | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 94 | Matt Davidson | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 5 | 111 | Marian Menhart | Czech Republic | HC Litvínov (Czech Republic) |
| 5 | 119 | Kevin Popp | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 5 | 123 | Daniel Bienvenue | Canada | Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 172 | Brian Scott | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 8 | 198 | Mike Zanutto | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 9 | 224 | Rob Skrlac | Canada | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |