# 1992–93 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1992–93 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 23rd season in the National Hockey League. Three Buffalo players scored at least 20 power-play goals each (Dave Andreychuk, Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny). Mogilny led all skaters in hat tricks during the regular season with 7, and Buffalo tied the Pittsburgh Penguins for most hat tricks scored by a team, with 10. The Sabres stumbled into the 1993 NHL Playoffs, losing their final 7 regular-season games.

## Offseason

On August 7, Buffalo acquired goaltender Dominik Hasek from the Chicago Blackhawks for Stephane Beauregard and future considerations (a 1993 fourth round pick that was used to select Eric Daze).

## Regular season
### Pat LaFontaine

LaFontaine exploded offensively in the 1992–93 season with a personal-best and team-record 148 points (53 goals and 95 assists). The 148 points are also the most points ever scored by an American-born player in one season. His play-making ability enabled his linemate, Alexander Mogilny to set a team season record with 76 goals, (both LaFontaine's 95 assists and Mogilny's 76 goals still stand as the Sabres' team records). LaFontaine finished as runner-up to Mario Lemieux in the scoring race and earned a spot on the postseason NHL All-Star Second Team. He was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Lady Byng Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player.
During the 1993 playoffs, LaFontaine engineered another great moment: in spite of playing with a damaged knee, as well as having fallen onto the ice, he still managed to set up Brad May's overtime, series-clinching goal against the Boston Bruins.

### Season standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Boston Bruins | 84 | 51 | 26 | 7 | 109 | 332 | 268 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 84 | 47 | 27 | 10 | 104 | 351 | 300 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 84 | 48 | 30 | 6 | 102 | 326 | 280 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 84 | 38 | 36 | 10 | 86 | 335 | 297 |
| Hartford Whalers | 84 | 26 | 52 | 6 | 58 | 284 | 369 |
| Ottawa Senators | 84 | 10 | 70 | 4 | 24 | 202 | 395 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Wales Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Pittsburgh Penguins | PTK | 84 | 56 | 21 | 7 | 367 | 268 | 119 |
| 2 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 84 | 51 | 26 | 7 | 332 | 268 | 109 |
| 3 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 84 | 47 | 27 | 10 | 351 | 300 | 104 |
| 4 | Montreal Canadiens | ADM | 84 | 48 | 30 | 6 | 326 | 280 | 102 |
| 5 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 84 | 43 | 34 | 7 | 325 | 286 | 93 |
| 6 | New York Islanders | PTK | 84 | 40 | 37 | 7 | 335 | 297 | 87 |
| 7 | New Jersey Devils | PTK | 84 | 40 | 37 | 7 | 308 | 299 | 87 |
| 8 | Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 84 | 38 | 36 | 10 | 335 | 297 | 86 |
| 9 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 84 | 36 | 37 | 11 | 319 | 319 | 83 |
| 10 | New York Rangers | PTK | 84 | 34 | 39 | 11 | 304 | 308 | 79 |
| 11 | Hartford Whalers | ADM | 84 | 26 | 52 | 6 | 284 | 369 | 58 |
| 12 | Ottawa Senators | ADM | 84 | 10 | 70 | 4 | 202 | 395 | 24 |
p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and division) Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Playoffs
### Adams Division Semifinals

Buffalo's four-game sweep of the Bruins ended with a memorable overtime goal by Brad May at Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium, leading to Sabres' play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret's famous "May Day! May Day! May Day!" call.

### Adams Division Finals

The long-awaited series between Patrick Roy and Grant Fuhr had finally arrived. The Canadiens swept the series, winning every game by a score of 4–3; three of the four the games in overtime.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1992–93 regular season :
October: 6–3–2 (home: 5–1–0; road: 1–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 8, 19924–5Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)0–1–0Recap
2WOctober 10, 19925–2@ Hartford Whalers (1992–93)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 11, 19928–2Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)2–1–0Recap
4LOctober 13, 19925–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93)2–2–0Recap
5WOctober 16, 19925–4 OTTampa Bay Lightning (1992–93)3–2–0Recap
6LOctober 17, 19924–6@ Washington Capitals (1992–93)3–3–0Recap
7WOctober 21, 19924–1Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)4–3–0Recap
8WOctober 23, 19925–4San Jose Sharks (1992–93)5–3–0Recap
9TOctober 28, 19924–4 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)5–3–1Recap
10WOctober 30, 199212–3Ottawa Senators (1992–93)6–3–1Recap
11TOctober 31, 19922–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1992–93)6–3–2Recap :
November: 4–8–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 1–7–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12LNovember 2, 19926–7 OT@ New York Rangers (1992–93)6–4–2Recap
13LNovember 5, 19925–7@ San Jose Sharks (1992–93)6–5–2Recap
14LNovember 7, 19922–5@ Los Angeles Kings (1992–93)6–6–2Recap
15WNovember 11, 19927–2Boston Bruins (1992–93)7–6–2Recap
16WNovember 13, 19928–2Hartford Whalers (1992–93)8–6–2Recap
17LNovember 14, 19925–7@ New York Islanders (1992–93)8–7–2Recap
18LNovember 17, 19922–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93)8–8–2Recap
19LNovember 18, 19922–3@ New Jersey Devils (1992–93)8–9–2Recap
20LNovember 21, 19923–4Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)8–10–2Recap
21TNovember 22, 19924–4 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93)8–10–3Recap
22TNovember 25, 19921–1 OTQuebec Nordiques (1992–93)8–10–4Recap
23WNovember 27, 19924–1Ottawa Senators (1992–93)9–10–4Recap
24WNovember 29, 19925–2@ Ottawa Senators (1992–93)10–10–4Recap
25LNovember 30, 19920–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)10–11–4Recap :
December: 6–4–2 (home: 5–2–1; road: 1–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26TDecember 4, 19925–5 OTNew York Islanders (1992–93)10–11–5Recap
27LDecember 6, 19923–7New Jersey Devils (1992–93)10–12–5Recap
28LDecember 7, 19923–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)10–13–5Recap
29WDecember 9, 19925–2Boston Bruins (1992–93)11–13–5Recap
30WDecember 11, 19929–3Hartford Whalers (1992–93)12–13–5Recap
31TDecember 12, 19921–1 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1992–93)12–13–6Recap
32WDecember 15, 19923–2@ Boston Bruins (1992–93)13–13–6Recap
33LDecember 19, 19922–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)13–14–6Recap
34WDecember 20, 19925–4Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)14–14–6Recap
35WDecember 23, 19924–1Washington Capitals (1992–93)15–14–6Recap
36LDecember 27, 19922–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93)15–15–6Recap
37WDecember 31, 199211–6New York Rangers (1992–93)16–15–6Recap :
January: 10–5–0 (home: 6–1–0; road: 4–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38WJanuary 2, 19937–2@ Ottawa Senators (1992–93)17–15–6Recap
39WJanuary 3, 19936–5 OTSt. Louis Blues (1992–93)18–15–6Recap
40WJanuary 6, 19933–1@ Hartford Whalers (1992–93)19–15–6Recap
41WJanuary 8, 19936–5New York Islanders (1992–93)20–15–6Recap
42WJanuary 10, 19935–3Calgary Flames (1992–93)21–15–6Recap
43LJanuary 12, 19932–5@ Boston Bruins (1992–93)21–16–6Recap
44LJanuary 15, 19931–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1992–93)21–17–6Recap
45LJanuary 17, 19932–3 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1992–93)21–18–6Recap
46WJanuary 19, 19933–2 OT@ Calgary Flames (1992–93)22–18–6Recap
47WJanuary 22, 19936–2Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)23–18–6Recap
48LJanuary 23, 19933–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)23–19–6Recap
49WJanuary 26, 19934–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93)24–19–6Recap
50WJanuary 27, 19934–3Washington Capitals (1992–93)25–19–6Recap
51WJanuary 29, 19936–4New York Rangers (1992–93)26–19–6Recap
52LJanuary 31, 19934–5 OTEdmonton Oilers (1992–93)26–20–6Recap :
February: 5–4–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53WFebruary 3, 19933–2Hartford Whalers (1992–93)27–20–6Recap
54LFebruary 8, 19932–4@ Ottawa Senators (1992–93)27–21–6Recap
55WFebruary 10, 19936–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1992–93)28–21–6Recap
56LFebruary 12, 19931–3Vancouver Canucks (1992–93)28–22–6Recap
57WFebruary 14, 19937–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93)29–22–6Recap
58WFebruary 17, 19935–3@ Hartford Whalers (1992–93)30–22–6Recap
59TFebruary 19, 19933–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils (1992–93)30–22–7Recap
60WFebruary 24, 199310–7Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)31–22–7Recap
61LFebruary 26, 19934–6Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)31–23–7Recap
62LFebruary 27, 19934–8@ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)31–24–7Recap :
March: 7–5–3 (home: 3–4–0; road: 4–1–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
63LMarch 1, 19932–5Vancouver Canucks (1992–93)31–25–7Recap
64TMarch 3, 19932–2 OT@ New York Rangers (1992–93)31–25–8Recap
65LMarch 5, 19932–4Hartford Whalers (1992–93)31–26–8Recap
66WMarch 7, 19932–1Winnipeg Jets (1992–93)32–26–8Recap
67WMarch 10, 19937–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)33–26–8Recap
68TMarch 13, 19933–3 OT@ Hartford Whalers (1992–93)33–26–9Recap
69LMarch 15, 19932–4Los Angeles Kings (1992–93)33–27–9Recap
70TMarch 16, 19932–2 OT@ St. Louis Blues (1992–93)33–27–10Recap
71WMarch 20, 19933–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1992–93)34–27–10Recap
72WMarch 22, 19938–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)35–27–10Recap
73LMarch 24, 19930–2Boston Bruins (1992–93)35–28–10Recap
74WMarch 25, 19936–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)36–28–10Recap
75WMarch 28, 19933–1Ottawa Senators (1992–93)37–28–10Recap
76LMarch 30, 19931–4@ Washington Capitals (1992–93)37–29–10Recap
77WMarch 31, 19935–2New Jersey Devils (1992–93)38–29–10Recap :
April: 0–7–0 (home: 0–4–0; road: 0–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
78LApril 3, 19932–3@ Boston Bruins (1992–93)38–30–10Recap
79LApril 4, 19930–3Boston Bruins (1992–93)38–31–10Recap
80LApril 6, 19931–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)38–32–10Recap
81LApril 10, 19935–6@ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)38–33–10Recap
82LApril 11, 19931–3Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)38–34–10Recap
83LApril 13, 19932–3 OTMontreal Canadiens (1992–93)38–35–10Recap
84LApril 15, 19934–7Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93)38–36–10Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1993 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Adams Division Semifinals vs. (A1) Boston Bruins – Sabres win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 18, 19935–4 OT@ Boston BruinsSabres lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 20, 19934–0@ Boston BruinsSabres lead 2–0Recap
3WApril 22, 19934–3 OTBoston BruinsSabres lead 3–0Recap
4WApril 24, 19936–5 OTBoston BruinsSabres win 4–0Recap :
Adams Division Finals vs. (A3) Montreal Canadiens – Canadiens win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LMay 2, 19933–4@ Montreal CanadiensCanadiens lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 4, 19933–4 OT@ Montreal CanadiensCanadiens lead 2–0Recap
3LMay 6, 19933–4 OTMontreal CanadiensCanadiens lead 3–0Recap
4LMay 8, 19933–4 OTMontreal CanadiensCanadiens win 4–0Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Pat LaFontaine | 84 | 53 | 95 | 148 | 63 |
| Alexander Mogilny | 77 | 76 | 51 | 127 | 40 |
| Dale Hawerchuk | 81 | 16 | 80 | 96 | 52 |
| Dave Andreychuk* | 52 | 29 | 32 | 61 | 48 |
| Bob Sweeney | 80 | 21 | 26 | 47 | 118 |
| Randy Wood | 82 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 77 |
| Yuri Khmylev | 68 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 28 |
| Wayne Presley | 79 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 96 |
| Brad May | 82 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 242 |
| Dave Hannan | 55 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 43 |
| Donald Audette | 44 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 51 |
| Bob Corkum | 68 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 38 |
| Viktor Gordiouk | 16 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| Colin Patterson | 36 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 22 |
| Rob Ray | 68 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 211 |
| Bob Errey* | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Scott Thomas | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| Matthew Barnaby | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Doug MacDonald | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Peter Ciavaglia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* - player was traded during season; stats only include games played with Buffalo

### Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Doug Bodger | 81 | 9 | 45 | 54 | 87 |
| Richard Smehlik | 80 | 4 | 27 | 31 | 59 |
| Petr Svoboda | 40 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 59 |
| Ken Sutton | 63 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 30 |
| Grant Ledyard | 50 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 45 |
| Gord Donnelly | 60 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 221 |
| Mike Ramsey* | 33 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 20 |
| Randy Moller | 35 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 83 |
| Bob Boughner | 15 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Keith Carney | 30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 55 |
| Philippe Boucher | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
| Greg Brown | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
* - player was traded during season; stats only include games played with Buffalo

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Dominik Hasek | 28 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 3.15 |
| Grant Fuhr | 29 | 11 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3.47 |
| Daren Puppa* | 24 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3.58 |
| Tom Draper | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3.70 |
* - player was traded during season; stats only include games played with Buffalo

## Awards and records

* Pat LaFontaine, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Alexander Mogilny, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Alexander Mogilny, club record, goals in a season (76)
* Pat LaFontaine, club record, assists in a season (95)
* Pat LaFontaine, club record, points in a season (148)

## Transactions

* Grant Fuhr was traded to Buffalo by Toronto with Toronto's 5th round choice (Kevin Popp) in 1995 Entry Draft for Dave Andreychuk, Daren Puppa and Buffalo's 1st round choice (Kenny Jonsson) in 1993 Entry Draft, February 2, 1993.

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1992 NHL entry draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 11 | David Cooper | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 2 | 35 | Jozef Cierny | Czechoslovakia | ZTK Zvolen (Czechoslovakia) |
| 3 | 59 | Ondrej Steiner | Czechoslovakia | Skoda Plzen (Czechoslovakia) |
| 4 | 80 | Dean Melanson | Canada | Saint-Hyacinthe Laser (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 83 | Matthew Barnaby | Canada | Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 107 | Markus Ketterer | Finland | Jokerit (Finland) |
| 5 | 108 | Yuri Khmylev | Russia | Krylya Sovetov (Russia) |
| 6 | 131 | Paul Rushforth | Canada | North Bay Centennials (OHL) |
| 8 | 179 | Dean Tiltgen | Canada | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |
| 9 | 203 | Todd Simon | Canada | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) |
| 10 | 227 | Rick Kowalsky | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 11 | 251 | Chris Clancy | Canada | Cornwall Royals (OHL) |