# 1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season was the 16th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). It saw the Sabres finish in last place in the Adams Division with a record of 37 wins, 37 losses, and 6 ties for 80 points. They missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 1974.

## Regular season
### Divisional standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 43 | 31 | 6 | 330 | 289 | 92 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 40 | 33 | 7 | 330 | 280 | 87 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 31 | 12 | 311 | 288 | 86 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 40 | 36 | 4 | 332 | 302 | 84 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 37 | 37 | 6 | 296 | 291 | 80 |
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.

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Boston
—3–3–24–3–13–4–11–5–211–15–6
Buffalo
3–3–2—2–63–54–412–18–2
Hartford
3–4–16–2—3–4–14–416–14–2
Montreal
4–3–15–34–3−1—2–615–15–2
Quebec
5–1–24–44–46–2—19–11–2
Vs. Patrick Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
3–00–1–21–21–22–10–2–17–8–3
Buffalo
2–12–13–02–10–2–11–1–110–6–2
Hartford
2–11–22–10–32–10–2–17–10–1
Montreal
2–12–10–2–11–22–0–10–2–17–8–3
Quebec
1–22–12–0–11–1–11–1–10–37–8–3
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Boston
1–22–13–01–22–0–19–5–1
Buffalo
1–21–1–12–12–11–27–7–1
Hartford
1–22–11–21–1–13–08–6–1
Montreal
2–0–13–01–1–11–22–19–4–2
Quebec
2–12–12–11–23–010–5–0
Vs. Smythe Division
1985–86 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
2–11–23–01–0–23–010–3–2
Buffalo
1–1–12–11–22–12–18–6–1
Hartford
2–10–32–13–02–19–6–0
Montreal
2–10–32–13–02–19–6–0
Quebec
2–11–22–11–1–11–27–7–1 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 10, 1985 | 4–5 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 12, 1985 | 6–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 14, 1985 | 6–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | W | October 16, 1985 | 6–0 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1985 | 1–4 | Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | T | October 19, 1985 | 2–2 OT | @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | L | October 23, 1985 | 4–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 3–3–1 |
| 8 | W | October 25, 1985 | 5–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | October 27, 1985 | 3–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | L | October 30, 1985 | 2–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | W | November 1, 1985 | 2–0 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 6–4–1 |
| 12 | L | November 2, 1985 | 2–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 6–5–1 |
| 13 | W | November 6, 1985 | 7–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 7–5–1 |
| 14 | W | November 8, 1985 | 5–4 | St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 8–5–1 |
| 15 | W | November 10, 1985 | 5–1 | Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 9–5–1 |
| 16 | W | November 13, 1985 | 6–4 | Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 10–5–1 |
| 17 | L | November 16, 1985 | 1–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 10–6–1 |
| 18 | L | November 17, 1985 | 3–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 10–7–1 |
| 19 | W | November 19, 1985 | 2–0 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 11–7–1 |
| 20 | W | November 22, 1985 | 7–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 12–7–1 |
| 21 | L | November 25, 1985 | 3–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) | 12–8–1 |
| 22 | L | November 27, 1985 | 1–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 12–9–1 |
| 23 | L | November 29, 1985 | 2–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 12–10–1 |
| 24 | L | November 30, 1985 | 2–3 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 12–11–1 |
| 25 | W | December 4, 1985 | 6–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 13–11–1 |
| 26 | L | December 6, 1985 | 1–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 13–12–1 |
| 27 | T | December 8, 1985 | 3–3 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 13–12–2 |
| 28 | L | December 10, 1985 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 13–13–2 |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1985 | 4–6 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 13–14–2 |
| 30 | W | December 15, 1985 | 6–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 14–14–2 |
| 31 | L | December 17, 1985 | 3–7 | @ New York Islanders (1985–86) | 14–15–2 |
| 32 | W | December 18, 1985 | 5–4 | @ New York Rangers (1985–86) | 15–15–2 |
| 33 | L | December 21, 1985 | 1–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 15–16–2 |
| 34 | W | December 22, 1985 | 5–3 | Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 16–16–2 |
| 35 | W | December 26, 1985 | 6–1 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 17–16–2 |
| 36 | W | December 29, 1985 | 4–3 | New York Islanders (1985–86) | 18–16–2 |
| 37 | T | December 31, 1985 | 6–6 OT | Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 18–16–3 |
| 38 | T | January 2, 1986 | 2–2 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86) | 18–16–4 |
| 39 | L | January 4, 1986 | 0–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 18–17–4 |
| 40 | L | January 5, 1986 | 2–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 18–18–4 |
| 41 | W | January 10, 1986 | 9–7 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) | 19–18–4 |
| 42 | T | January 11, 1986 | 3–3 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 19–18–5 |
| 43 | L | January 15, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 19–19–5 |
| 44 | W | January 17, 1986 | 5–4 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 20–19–5 |
| 45 | W | January 19, 1986 | 6–3 | @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 21–19–5 |
| 46 | W | January 22, 1986 | 6–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 22–19–5 |
| 47 | L | January 24, 1986 | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 22–20–5 |
| 48 | L | January 25, 1986 | 3–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 22–21–5 |
| 49 | L | January 27, 1986 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 22–22–5 |
| 50 | L | January 29, 1986 | 3–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) | 22–23–5 |
| 51 | W | January 31, 1986 | 5–3 | New York Rangers (1985–86) | 23–23–5 |
| 52 | W | February 2, 1986 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 24–23–5 |
| 53 | W | February 6, 1986 | 8–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 25–23–5 |
| 54 | W | February 8, 1986 | 4–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 26–23–5 |
| 55 | W | February 9, 1986 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 27–23–5 |
| 56 | L | February 12, 1986 | 0–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 27–24–5 |
| 57 | T | February 14, 1986 | 3–3 OT | @ Calgary Flames (1985–86) | 27–24–6 |
| 58 | L | February 16, 1986 | 5–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) | 27–25–6 |
| 59 | L | February 19, 1986 | 4–6 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 27–26–6 |
| 60 | W | February 21, 1986 | 5–1 | New York Islanders (1985–86) | 28–26–6 |
| 61 | W | February 23, 1986 | 4–1 | Washington Capitals (1985–86) | 29–26–6 |
| 62 | L | February 26, 1986 | 2–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) | 29–27–6 |
| 63 | L | February 28, 1986 | 2–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 29–28–6 |
| 64 | W | March 1, 1986 | 8–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) | 30–28–6 |
| 65 | W | March 4, 1986 | 6–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 31–28–6 |
| 66 | L | March 5, 1986 | 1–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 31–29–6 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1986 | 2–6 | Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 31–30–6 |
| 68 | W | March 9, 1986 | 4–3 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 32–30–6 |
| 69 | L | March 11, 1986 | 2–3 OT | @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) | 32–31–6 |
| 70 | W | March 12, 1986 | 7–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) | 33–31–6 |
| 71 | L | March 15, 1986 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 33–32–6 |
| 72 | W | March 19, 1986 | 4–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) | 34–32–6 |
| 73 | L | March 21, 1986 | 3–6 | New Jersey Devils (1985–86) | 34–33–6 |
| 74 | W | March 23, 1986 | 6–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) | 35–33–6 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1986 | 1–0 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) | 36–33–6 |
| 76 | L | March 29, 1986 | 1–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 36–34–6 |
| 77 | L | March 30, 1986 | 3–5 | Boston Bruins (1985–86) | 36–35–6 |
| 78 | L | April 1, 1986 | 3–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) | 36–36–6 |
| 79 | W | April 4, 1986 | 4–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 37–36–6 |
| 80 | L | April 5, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) | 37–37–6 |

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| Dave Andreychuk | 80 | 36 | 51 | 87 | 61 |
| Mike Foligno | 79 | 41 | 39 | 80 | 168 |
| John Tucker | 75 | 31 | 34 | 65 | 39 |
| Phil Housley | 79 | 15 | 47 | 62 | 54 |
| Gilbert Perreault | 72 | 21 | 39 | 60 | 28 |
| Lindy Ruff | 54 | 20 | 12 | 32 | 158 |
| Mike Ramsey | 76 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 117 |
| Steve Dykstra | 64 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 108 |
| Bill Hajt | 58 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 25 |
| Normand Lacombe | 25 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 13 |

### Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | OT | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |

## Draft picks

Buffalo's picks at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 14 | Calle Johansson | Defense | Sweden | Västra Frölunda HC (Sweden) |
| 2 | 35 | Benoit Hogue | Left wing | Canada | St. Jean Beavers (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 56 | Keith Gretzky | Forward | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) |
| 4 | 77 | Dave Moylan | Defense | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 5 | 98 | Ken Priestlay | Center | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 6 | 119 | Joe Reekie | Defense | Canada | Cornwall Royals (OHL) |
| 7 | 140 | Petri Matikainen | Defense | Finland | SaPKO (Finland) |
| 8 | 161 | Trent Kaese | Right wing | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 9 | 182 | Jiri Sejba | Forward | Czechoslovakia | Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia) |
| 10 | 203 | Boyd Sutton | Center | United States | Stratford Cullitons (OPJHL) |
| 11 | 224 | Guy Larose | Center | Canada | Guelph Platers (OHL) |
| 12 | 245 | Ken Baumgartner | Left wing | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |