# 1993–94 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1993–94 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 24th season in the National Hockey League.

## Offseason

On July 30, head coach John Muckler was named general manager and Gerry Meehan was promoted to executive vice president for sports operations.

## Regular season

In the course of the regular season, the Sabres allowed the fewest goals (218) and tied the New York Rangers for most power-play goals with 96. They also tied the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning for the fewest power-play goals allowed (58), had the most shutouts (9) and the best penalty-kill percentage (84.74%)

### Season standings

Northeast Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 84 | 44 | 27 | 13 | 299 | 285 | 101 |
| 2 | 4 | Boston Bruins | 84 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 289 | 252 | 97 |
| 3 | 5 | Montreal Canadiens | 84 | 41 | 29 | 14 | 283 | 248 | 96 |
| 4 | 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 84 | 43 | 32 | 9 | 282 | 218 | 95 |
| 5 | 11 | Quebec Nordiques | 84 | 34 | 42 | 8 | 277 | 292 | 76 |
| 6 | 13 | Hartford Whalers | 84 | 27 | 48 | 9 | 227 | 288 | 63 |
| 7 | 14 | Ottawa Senators | 84 | 14 | 61 | 9 | 201 | 397 | 37 |
Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
 Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Eastern Conference :
| R | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p-New York Rangers * | 84 | 52 | 24 | 8 | 299 | 231 | 112 |
| 2 | x-Pittsburgh Penguins * | 84 | 44 | 27 | 13 | 299 | 285 | 101 |
| 3 | New Jersey Devils | 84 | 47 | 25 | 12 | 306 | 220 | 106 |
| 4 | Boston Bruins | 84 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 289 | 252 | 97 |
| 5 | Montreal Canadiens | 84 | 41 | 29 | 14 | 283 | 248 | 96 |
| 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 84 | 43 | 32 | 9 | 282 | 218 | 95 |
| 7 | Washington Capitals | 84 | 39 | 35 | 10 | 277 | 263 | 88 |
| 8 | New York Islanders | 84 | 36 | 36 | 12 | 282 | 264 | 84 |
| 9 | Florida Panthers | 84 | 33 | 34 | 17 | 233 | 233 | 83 |
| 10 | Philadelphia Flyers | 84 | 35 | 39 | 10 | 294 | 314 | 80 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | 84 | 34 | 42 | 8 | 277 | 292 | 76 |
| 12 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 84 | 30 | 43 | 11 | 224 | 251 | 71 |
| 13 | Hartford Whalers | 84 | 27 | 48 | 9 | 227 | 288 | 63 |
| 14 | Ottawa Senators | 84 | 14 | 61 | 9 | 201 | 397 | 37 |
* Final standings
bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division); * – Division leader

## Playoffs

On April 27, 1994, the Sabres played the New Jersey Devils in a classic playoff game when the Sabres outlasted the Devils 1–0 in a quadruple-overtime affair that required 70 saves from Hasek. Martin Brodeur, the Devils goalie went toe to toe with Dominik Hašek. Dave Hannan scored the lone, winning goal.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1993–94 regular season :
October: 4–7–1 (home: 0–4–0; road: 4–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 7, 19935–3@ Boston Bruins (1993–94)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 9, 19934–7@ Montreal Canadiens (1993–94)1–1–0Recap
3LOctober 10, 19932–3Hartford Whalers (1993–94)1–2–0Recap
4LOctober 12, 19933–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94)1–3–0Recap
5LOctober 15, 19932–5New York Rangers (1993–94)1–4–0Recap
6LOctober 16, 19933–4@ Washington Capitals (1993–94)1–5–0Recap
7LOctober 18, 19934–6Detroit Red Wings (1993–94)1–6–0Recap
8LOctober 22, 19932–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94)1–7–0Recap
9TOctober 23, 19933–3 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1993–94)1–7–1Recap
10WOctober 27, 19935–3@ Calgary Flames (1993–94)2–7–1Recap
11WOctober 29, 19936–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1993–94)3–7–1Recap
12WOctober 30, 19936–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1993–94)4–7–1Recap :
November: 6–5–1 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13LNovember 3, 19932–6Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94)4–8–1Recap
14LNovember 7, 19933–4Boston Bruins (1993–94)4–9–1Recap
15LNovember 10, 19933–5Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94)4–10–1Recap
16WNovember 13, 19937–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94)5–10–1Recap
17LNovember 17, 19930–4@ New Jersey Devils (1993–94)5–11–1Recap
18WNovember 19, 19936–0Winnipeg Jets (1993–94)6–11–1Recap
19WNovember 21, 19936–5San Jose Sharks (1993–94)7–11–1Recap
20WNovember 22, 19935–2@ Ottawa Senators (1993–94)8–11–1Recap
21LNovember 24, 19933–5New Jersey Devils (1993–94)8–12–1Recap
22WNovember 26, 19935–2Ottawa Senators (1993–94)9–12–1Recap
23TNovember 27, 19932–2 OT@ Quebec Nordiques (1993–94)9–12–2Recap
24WNovember 29, 19933–0@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1993–94)10–12–2Recap :
December: 8–5–1 (home: 5–1–1; road: 3–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
25WDecember 1, 19933–0@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1993–94)11–12–2Recap
26LDecember 2, 19931–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1993–94)11–13–2Recap
27WDecember 5, 19933–1Boston Bruins (1993–94)12–13–2Recap
28WDecember 8, 19933–1@ Ottawa Senators (1993–94)13–13–2Recap
29WDecember 10, 19936–2Calgary Flames (1993–94)14–13–2Recap
30WDecember 11, 19933–0@ Hartford Whalers (1993–94)15–13–2Recap
31LDecember 13, 19930–2@ New York Rangers (1993–94)15–14–2Recap
32LDecember 16, 19931–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94)15–15–2Recap
33WDecember 17, 19932–0Los Angeles Kings (1993–94)16–15–2Recap
34TDecember 19, 19933–3 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1993–94)16–15–3Recap
35WDecember 23, 19935–0Montreal Canadiens (1993–94)17–15–3Recap
36LDecember 26, 19933–4 OT@ New York Islanders (1993–94)17–16–3Recap
37LDecember 27, 19930–2Philadelphia Flyers (1993–94)17–17–3Recap
38WDecember 31, 19934–1New York Rangers (1993–94)18–17–3Recap :
January: 5–5–2 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39TJanuary 2, 19943–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1993–94)18–17–4Recap
40LJanuary 7, 19943–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1993–94)18–18–4Recap
41WJanuary 9, 19945–3Vancouver Canucks (1993–94)19–18–4Recap
42WJanuary 11, 19945–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1993–94)20–18–4Recap
43LJanuary 12, 19942–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1993–94)20–19–4Recap
44LJanuary 15, 19941–2@ St. Louis Blues (1993–94)20–20–4Recap
45WJanuary 16, 19944–2@ Dallas Stars (1993–94)21–20–4Recap
46TJanuary 19, 19941–1 OTEdmonton Oilers (1993–94)21–20–5Recap
47LJanuary 24, 19940–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1993–94)21–21–5Recap
48WJanuary 27, 19947–2Washington Capitals (1993–94)22–21–5Recap
49WJanuary 29, 19943–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1993–94)23–21–5Recap
50LJanuary 30, 19942–3Florida Panthers (1993–94)23–22–5Recap :
February: 8–4–2 (home: 5–2–0; road: 3–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
51WFebruary 2, 19943–2@ New Jersey Devils (1993–94)24–22–5Recap
52WFebruary 4, 19947–2@ Florida Panthers (1993–94)25–22–5Recap
53WFebruary 6, 19944–1New York Islanders (1993–94)26–22–5Recap
54LFebruary 8, 19941–3@ New York Islanders (1993–94)26–23–5Recap
55TFebruary 10, 19943–3 OT@ Boston Bruins (1993–94)26–23–6Recap
56WFebruary 11, 19945–1Montreal Canadiens (1993–94)27–23–6Recap
57LFebruary 13, 19943–5Dallas Stars (1993–94)27–24–6Recap
58WFebruary 16, 19945–3@ Hartford Whalers (1993–94)28–24–6Recap
59WFebruary 18, 19944–1Florida Panthers (1993–94)29–24–6Recap
60TFebruary 20, 19943–3 OT@ Washington Capitals (1993–94)29–24–7Recap
61WFebruary 21, 19942–1Quebec Nordiques (1993–94)30–24–7Recap
62WFebruary 23, 19944–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–94)31–24–7Recap
63LFebruary 25, 19941–3Chicago Blackhawks (1993–94)31–25–7Recap
64LFebruary 26, 19943–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94)31–26–7Recap :
March: 8–3–2 (home: 4–3–0; road: 4–0–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
65WMarch 2, 19947–2@ Ottawa Senators (1993–94)32–26–7Recap
66WMarch 4, 19942–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1993–94)33–26–7Recap
67WMarch 6, 19943–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1993–94)34–26–7Recap
68TMarch 8, 19944–4 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1993–94)34–26–8Recap
69WMarch 9, 19943–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993–94)35–26–8Recap
70WMarch 12, 19945–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1993–94)36–26–8Recap
71LMarch 17, 19941–6New Jersey Devils (1993–94)36–27–8Recap
72TMarch 18, 19942–2 OT@ New York Islanders (1993–94)36–27–9Recap
73WMarch 20, 19946–2Ottawa Senators (1993–94)37–27–9Recap
74LMarch 23, 19942–3St. Louis Blues (1993–94)37–28–9Recap
75WMarch 25, 19946–3Hartford Whalers (1993–94)38–28–9Recap
76WMarch 27, 19944–1New York Islanders (1993–94)39–28–9Recap
77LMarch 30, 19942–3 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1993–94)39–29–9Recap :
April: 4–3–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 1–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
78WApril 1, 19945–0Boston Bruins (1993–94)40–29–9Recap
79WApril 2, 19946–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1993–94)41–29–9Recap
80LApril 4, 19944–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1993–94)41–30–9Recap
81WApril 8, 19941–0Montreal Canadiens (1993–94)42–30–9Recap
82WApril 10, 19944–1Quebec Nordiques (1993–94)43–30–9Recap
83LApril 12, 19942–3@ New York Rangers (1993–94)43–31–9Recap
84LApril 14, 19942–3Washington Capitals (1993–94)43–32–9Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1994 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (3) New Jersey Devils – Devils win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 17, 19942–0@ New Jersey DevilsSabres lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 19, 19941–2@ New Jersey DevilsSeries tied 1–1Recap
3LApril 21, 19941–2New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 23, 19945–3New Jersey DevilsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LApril 25, 19943–5@ New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 3–2Recap
6WApril 27, 19941–0 4OTNew Jersey DevilsSeries tied 3–3Recap
7LApril 29, 19941–2@ New Jersey DevilsDevils win 4–3Recap :
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 |
| 10 | Dale Hawerchuk | C | 81 | 35 | 51 | 86 | 10 | 91 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −1 | 4 |
| 89 | Alexander Mogilny | RW | 66 | 32 | 47 | 79 | 8 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 28 | Donald Audette | RW | 77 | 29 | 30 | 59 | 2 | 41 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 6 |
| 13 | Yuri Khmylev | LW | 72 | 27 | 31 | 58 | 13 | 49 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −1 | 8 |
| 26 | Derek Plante | C | 77 | 21 | 35 | 56 | 4 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | Brad May | LW | 84 | 18 | 27 | 45 | −6 | 171 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 42 | Richard Smehlik | D | 84 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 22 | 69 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 10 |
| 8 | Doug Bodger | D | 75 | 7 | 32 | 39 | 8 | 76 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 19 | Randy Wood | LW | 84 | 22 | 16 | 38 | 11 | 71 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 18 | Wayne Presley | RW | 65 | 17 | 8 | 25 | 18 | 103 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −1 | 14 |
| 20 | Bob Sweeney | C | 60 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 3 | 94 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Ken Sutton | D | 78 | 4 | 20 | 24 | −6 | 71 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 14 | Dave Hannan | C | 83 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 10 | 53 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 16 | Pat LaFontaine | C | 16 | 5 | 13 | 18 | −4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Craig Simpson | LW | 22 | 8 | 8 | 16 | −3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Petr Svoboda | D | 60 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 89 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 |
| 4 | Philippe Boucher | D | 38 | 6 | 8 | 14 | −1 | 29 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 43 | Jason Dawe | LW | 32 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 24 | Randy Moller | D | 78 | 2 | 11 | 13 | −5 | 154 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Craig Muni† | D | 73 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 28 | 62 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 32 | Rob Ray | LW | 82 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 274 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 43 |
| 36 | Matthew Barnaby | LW | 35 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −7 | 106 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 |
| 21 | Scott Thomas | RW | 32 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Keith Carney‡ | D | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Grant Fuhr | G | 32 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Sergei Petrenko | LW | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Dominik Hasek | G | 58 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 17 | Todd Simon | C | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | Mark Astley | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | James Black† | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Gord Donnelly‡ | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 44 | Doug MacDonald | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Denis Tsygurov | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### 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 | 58 | 30 | 20 | 6 | 1552 | 109 | 1.95 | .930 | 7 | 3358 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 261 | 13 | 1.61 | .950 | 2 | 484 |
| 31 | Grant Fuhr | 32 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 907 | 106 | 3.69 | .883 | 2 | 1726 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records

* Dominik Hašek, Nominee, Hart Memorial Trophy
* Dominik Hašek, William M. Jennings Trophy
* Dominik Hašek, Vezina Trophy
* Dominik Hašek, NHL First Team All-Star

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1993 NHL entry draft held at the Quebec Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 38 | Denis Tsygurov | Russia | Lada Togliatti (Russia) |
| 3 | 64 | Ethan Philpott | United States | Andover Academy (USHS-MA) |
| 5 | 116 | Richard Safarik | Slovakia | AC Nitra (Slovakia) |
| 6 | 142 | Kevin Pozzo | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 7 | 168 | Sergei Petrenko | Ukraine | Dynamo Moscow (Russia) |
| 8 | 194 | Mike Barrie | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 9 | 220 | Barrie Moore | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 10 | 246 | Chris Davis | Canada | Calgary Royals (AJHL) |
| 11 | 272 | Scott Nichol | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |