# 1990–91 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1990–91 Buffalo Sabres season was the 21st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 44 | 24 | 12 | 299 | 264 | 100 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 39 | 30 | 11 | 273 | 249 | 89 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 31 | 30 | 19 | 292 | 278 | 81 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 31 | 38 | 11 | 238 | 276 | 73 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 16 | 50 | 14 | 236 | 354 | 46 |
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 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 44 | 24 | 12 | 299 | 264 | 100 |
| 2 | Montreal Canadiens | ADM | 80 | 39 | 30 | 11 | 273 | 249 | 89 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Penguins | PTK | 80 | 41 | 33 | 6 | 342 | 305 | 88 |
| 4 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 36 | 31 | 13 | 297 | 265 | 85 |
| 5 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 37 | 36 | 7 | 258 | 258 | 81 |
| 6 | Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 31 | 30 | 19 | 292 | 278 | 81 |
| 7 | New Jersey Devils | PTK | 80 | 32 | 33 | 15 | 272 | 264 | 79 |
| 8 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 33 | 37 | 10 | 252 | 267 | 76 |
| 9 | Hartford Whalers | ADM | 80 | 31 | 38 | 11 | 238 | 276 | 73 |
| 10 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 25 | 45 | 10 | 223 | 290 | 60 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 16 | 50 | 14 | 236 | 354 | 46 |
Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | T | October 4, 1990 | 3–3 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | L | October 6, 1990 | 5–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 0–1–1 |
| 3 | L | October 10, 1990 | 3–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 0–2–1 |
| 4 | L | October 12, 1990 | 2–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 0–3–1 |
| 5 | T | October 13, 1990 | 4–4 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 0–3–2 |
| 6 | L | October 17, 1990 | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 0–4–2 |
| 7 | T | October 19, 1990 | 4–4 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) | 0–4–3 |
| 8 | W | October 20, 1990 | 3–1 | @ New York Islanders (1990–91) | 1–4–3 |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1990 | 1–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) | 1–5–3 |
| 10 | W | October 27, 1990 | 3–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) | 2–5–3 |
| 11 | W | October 28, 1990 | 5–0 | Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 3–5–3 |
| 12 | T | October 31, 1990 | 3–3 OT | Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 3–5–4 |
| 13 | W | November 3, 1990 | 4–1 | @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 4–5–4 |
| 14 | W | November 4, 1990 | 2–1 | Calgary Flames (1990–91) | 5–5–4 |
| 15 | L | November 7, 1990 | 2–6 | @ New York Rangers (1990–91) | 5–6–4 |
| 16 | W | November 9, 1990 | 7–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) | 6–6–4 |
| 17 | W | November 10, 1990 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1990–91) | 7–6–4 |
| 18 | L | November 14, 1990 | 2–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) | 7–7–4 |
| 19 | L | November 16, 1990 | 2–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) | 7–8–4 |
| 20 | T | November 17, 1990 | 3–3 OT | @ Calgary Flames (1990–91) | 7–8–5 |
| 21 | T | November 21, 1990 | 5–5 OT | New York Rangers (1990–91) | 7–8–6 |
| 22 | W | November 23, 1990 | 3–2 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) | 8–8–6 |
| 23 | L | November 26, 1990 | 0–5 | @ New York Rangers (1990–91) | 8–9–6 |
| 24 | W | November 28, 1990 | 2–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 9–9–6 |
| 25 | L | December 1, 1990 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 9–10–6 |
| 26 | T | December 2, 1990 | 3–3 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) | 9–10–7 |
| 27 | W | December 6, 1990 | 4–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) | 10–10–7 |
| 28 | L | December 7, 1990 | 3–4 OT | Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 10–11–7 |
| 29 | L | December 9, 1990 | 2–3 | Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 10–12–7 |
| 30 | L | December 11, 1990 | 3–8 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) | 10–13–7 |
| 31 | L | December 14, 1990 | 3–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) | 10–14–7 |
| 32 | L | December 16, 1990 | 3–5 | St. Louis Blues (1990–91) | 10–15–7 |
| 33 | W | December 18, 1990 | 4–3 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 11–15–7 |
| 34 | L | December 20, 1990 | 1–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 11–16–7 |
| 35 | W | December 23, 1990 | 10–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 12–16–7 |
| 36 | T | December 26, 1990 | 3–3 OT | Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 12–16–8 |
| 37 | W | December 28, 1990 | 5–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) | 13–16–8 |
| 38 | T | December 29, 1990 | 4–4 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1990–91) | 13–16–9 |
| 39 | W | December 31, 1990 | 5–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) | 14–16–9 |
| 40 | W | January 2, 1991 | 5–4 | New York Islanders (1990–91) | 15–16–9 |
| 41 | W | January 4, 1991 | 4–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) | 16–16–9 |
| 42 | T | January 8, 1991 | 3–3 OT | @ Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) | 16–16–10 |
| 43 | L | January 10, 1991 | 2–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) | 16–17–10 |
| 44 | W | January 12, 1991 | 5–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) | 17–17–10 |
| 45 | W | January 14, 1991 | 9–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) | 18–17–10 |
| 46 | W | January 16, 1991 | 5–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1990–91) | 19–17–10 |
| 47 | W | January 22, 1991 | 6–4 | Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 20–17–10 |
| 48 | W | January 24, 1991 | 5–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) | 21–17–10 |
| 49 | L | January 26, 1991 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 21–18–10 |
| 50 | L | January 27, 1991 | 4–5 | Calgary Flames (1990–91) | 21–19–10 |
| 51 | L | January 29, 1991 | 3–8 | @ St. Louis Blues (1990–91) | 21–20–10 |
| 52 | L | January 31, 1991 | 1–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 21–21–10 |
| 53 | L | February 3, 1991 | 2–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1990–91) | 21–22–10 |
| 54 | L | February 6, 1991 | 4–5 OT | St. Louis Blues (1990–91) | 21–23–10 |
| 55 | T | February 8, 1991 | 4–4 OT | Los Angeles Kings (1990–91) | 21–23–11 |
| 56 | W | February 10, 1991 | 2–0 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) | 22–23–11 |
| 57 | T | February 12, 1991 | 4–4 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 22–23–12 |
| 58 | T | February 13, 1991 | 6–6 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) | 22–23–13 |
| 59 | T | February 15, 1991 | 2–2 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 22–23–14 |
| 60 | L | February 17, 1991 | 0–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1990–91) | 22–24–14 |
| 61 | L | February 19, 1991 | 3–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1990–91) | 22–25–14 |
| 62 | W | February 23, 1991 | 5–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 23–25–14 |
| 63 | T | February 24, 1991 | 5–5 OT | Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 23–25–15 |
| 64 | T | February 26, 1991 | 1–1 OT | @ New York Islanders (1990–91) | 23–25–16 |
| 65 | W | February 28, 1991 | 5–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 24–25–16 |
| 66 | W | March 2, 1991 | 7–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 25–25–16 |
| 67 | T | March 6, 1991 | 3–3 OT | New Jersey Devils (1990–91) | 25–25–17 |
| 68 | L | March 8, 1991 | 3–5 | Chicago Blackhawks (1990–91) | 25–26–17 |
| 69 | L | March 10, 1991 | 5–7 | Vancouver Canucks (1990–91) | 25–27–17 |
| 70 | L | March 12, 1991 | 2–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1990–91) | 25–28–17 |
| 71 | W | March 13, 1991 | 6–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1990–91) | 26–28–17 |
| 72 | L | March 16, 1991 | 4–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 26–29–17 |
| 73 | W | March 17, 1991 | 6–1 | Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 27–29–17 |
| 74 | W | March 20, 1991 | 3–2 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1990–91) | 28–29–17 |
| 75 | L | March 23, 1991 | 3–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1990–91) | 28–30–17 |
| 76 | W | March 24, 1991 | 6–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1990–91) | 29–30–17 |
| 77 | W | March 26, 1991 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1990–91) | 30–30–17 |
| 78 | T | March 28, 1991 | 4–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1990–91) | 30–30–18 |
| 79 | T | March 30, 1991 | 5–5 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1990–91) | 30–30–19 |
| 80 | W | March 31, 1991 | 5–2 | Washington Capitals (1990–91) | 31–30–19 |

## Playoffs

1991 Stanley Cup playoffs
Montreal vs. Buffalo :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 3 | Buffalo 5 | 7 Montreal |
| April 5 | Buffalo 4 | 5 Montreal |
| April 7 | Montreal 4 | 5 Buffalo |
| April 9 | Montreal 4 | 6 Buffalo |
| April 11 | Buffalo 3 | 4 Montreal | OT |
| April 13 | Montreal 5 | 1 Buffalo |
| Montreal wins series 4–2 ||||

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1990 NHL Entry Draft held at the BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 14 | Brad May | Canada | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) |
| 4 | 82 | Brian McCarthy | United States | Pingree School (USHS-MA) |
| 5 | 97 | Richard Smehlik | Czechoslovakia | TJ Vitkovice (Czechoslovakia) |
| 5 | 100 | Todd Bojcun | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 5 | 103 | Brad Pascall | Canada | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 7 | 142 | Viktor Gordiuk | Soviet Union | Krylya Sovetov (USSR) |
| 8 | 166 | Milan Nedoma | Czechoslovakia | Zetor Brno (Czechoslovakia) |
| 9 | 187 | Jason Winch | Canada | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) |
| 10 | 208 | Sylvain Naud | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 229 | Ken Martin | United States | Belmont High School (USHS-MA) |
| 12 | 250 | Brad Rubachuk | Canada | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) |
| S | 24 | Shane McFarlane | United States | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |