# 1991–92 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1991–92 Buffalo Sabres season was the 22nd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The season saw the Sabres finish in third place in the Adams Division with a record of 31 wins, 37 losses, and 12 ties for 74 points. They lost the Adams Division Semi-final to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 13 | Philippe Boucher | Canada | Granby Bisons (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 35 | Jason Dawe | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 3 | 57 | Jason Young | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 4 | 72 | Peter Ambroziak | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 5 | 101 | Steve Shields | Canada | University of Michigan (CCHA) |
| 6 | 123 | Sean O'Donnell | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 6 | 124 | Brian Holzinger | United States | Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (SOJHL) |
| 7 | 145 | Chris Snell | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 8 | 162 | Jiri Kuntos | Czechoslovakia | Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia) |
| 9 | 189 | Tony Iob | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 10 | 211 | Spencer Meany | Canada | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| 11 | 233 | Mikhail Volkov | Soviet Union | Krylya Sovetov (WHL) |
| 12 | 255 | Michael Smith | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| S | 19 | Jamie Steer | Canada | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |

## Regular season

Pat LaFontaine, frustrated with his situation on Long Island, turned down a four-year, $6 million contract offer and refused to report to the Islanders for the start of the 1991–92 NHL season. Three weeks into the season, on October 25, 1991, LaFontaine was traded, along with teammate Randy Wood, to the Buffalo Sabres for four players, including former first overall pick Pierre Turgeon.
The Sabres ended the regular season with the most power-play goals scored, with 105, and the best power-play percentage, with 22.53%.

### Season standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 267 | 207 | 93 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 36 | 32 | 12 | 270 | 275 | 84 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 289 | 299 | 74 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 26 | 41 | 13 | 247 | 283 | 65 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 20 | 48 | 12 | 255 | 318 | 52 |

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 4, 1991 | 4–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 5, 1991 | 1–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1991–92) | 0-2-0 |
| 3 | T | October 9, 1991 | 4–4 | Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 0-2–1 |
| 4 | W | October 12, 1991 | 5–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 1–2–1 |
| 5 | L | October 13, 1991 | 1–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 1–3–1 |
| 6 | L | October 16, 1991 | 1–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 1–4–1 |
| 7 | W | October 18, 1991 | 3–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | L | October 19, 1991 | 1–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 2–5–1 |
| 9 | W | October 25, 1991 | 3–1 | San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 3–5–1 |
| 10 | W | October 27, 1991 | 5–1 | Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 4–5–1 |
| 11 | L | October 30, 1991 | 1–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) | 4–6–1 |
| 12 | L | November 1, 1991 | 1–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 4–7–1 |
| 13 | L | November 2, 1991 | 0–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 4–8–1 |
| 14 | L | November 7, 1991 | 2–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) | 4–9–1 |
| 15 | W | November 8, 1991 | 4–3 OT | Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) | 5–9–1 |
| 16 | W | November 12, 1991 | 7–1 | @ San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 6–9–1 |
| 17 | T | November 14, 1991 | 2–2 OT | @ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) | 6–9–2 |
| 18 | W | November 16, 1991 | 5–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 7–9–2 |
| 19 | W | November 20, 1991 | 3–1 | Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 8–9–2 |
| 20 | W | November 22, 1991 | 2–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) | 9–9–2 |
| 21 | L | November 23, 1991 | 4–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 9–10–2 |
| 22 | T | November 27, 1991 | 4–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 9–10–3 |
| 23 | L | November 29, 1991 | 4–5 OT | New York Rangers (1991–92) | 9–11–3 |
| 24 | L | November 30, 1991 | 3–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 9–12–3 |
| 25 | L | December 4, 1991 | 4–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 9–13–3 |
| 26 | T | December 7, 1991 | 6–6 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 9–13–4 |
| 27 | L | December 8, 1991 | 2–4 | Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 9–14–4 |
| 28 | L | December 11, 1991 | 3–6 | St. Louis Blues (1991–92) | 9–15–4 |
| 29 | L | December 13, 1991 | 4–8 | Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 9–16–4 |
| 30 | L | December 14, 1991 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 9–17–4 |
| 31 | T | December 18, 1991 | 2–2 OT | Washington Capitals (1991–92) | 9–17–5 |
| 32 | T | December 20, 1991 | 4–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 9–17–6 |
| 33 | W | December 21, 1991 | 4–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) | 10–17–6 |
| 34 | L | December 23, 1991 | 3–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 10–18–6 |
| 35 | W | December 27, 1991 | 8–1 | Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 11–18–6 |
| 36 | L | December 28, 1991 | 0–3 | @ New Jersey Devils (1991–92) | 11–19–6 |
| 37 | W | December 31, 1991 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (1991–92) | 12–19–6 |
| 38 | W | January 3, 1992 | 5–2 | New York Islanders (1991–92) | 13–19–6 |
| 39 | L | January 4, 1992 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 13–20–6 |
| 40 | T | January 7, 1992 | 5–5 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) | 13–20–7 |
| 41 | W | January 8, 1992 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 14–20–7 |
| 42 | W | January 10, 1992 | 8–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 15–20–7 |
| 43 | W | January 12, 1992 | 6–3 | New York Rangers (1991–92) | 16–20–7 |
| 44 | L | January 14, 1992 | 2–6 | @ New York Rangers (1991–92) | 16–21–7 |
| 45 | T | January 15, 1992 | 8–8 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1991–92) | 16–21–8 |
| 46 | L | January 21, 1992 | 4–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) | 16–22–8 |
| 47 | W | January 23, 1992 | 5–4 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) | 17–22–8 |
| 48 | W | January 25, 1992 | 4–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 18–22–8 |
| 49 | W | January 26, 1992 | 5–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 19–22–8 |
| 50 | T | January 29, 1992 | 4–4 OT | @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) | 19–22–9 |
| 51 | W | January 31, 1992 | 5–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 20–22–9 |
| 52 | T | February 1, 1992 | 2–2 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 20–22–10 |
| 53 | W | February 4, 1992 | 7–3 | Washington Capitals (1991–92) | 21–22–10 |
| 54 | L | February 7, 1992 | 0–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) | 21–23–10 |
| 55 | L | February 9, 1992 | 4–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) | 21–24–10 |
| 56 | L | February 11, 1992 | 1–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 21–25–10 |
| 57 | L | February 12, 1992 | 4–9 | Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) | 21–26–10 |
| 58 | W | February 14, 1992 | 7–6 | San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 22–26–10 |
| 59 | W | February 16, 1992 | 5–4 | Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 23–26–10 |
| 60 | L | February 19, 1992 | 5–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 23–27–10 |
| 61 | L | February 23, 1992 | 2–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 23–28–10 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1992 | 5–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 24–28–10 |
| 63 | L | February 29, 1992 | 2–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) | 24–29–10 |
| 64 | L | March 1, 1992 | 1–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) | 24–30–10 |
| 65 | T | March 3, 1992 | 4–4 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 24–30–11 |
| 66 | W | March 6, 1992 | 5–4 | New Jersey Devils (1991–92) | 25–30–11 |
| 67 | L | March 8, 1992 | 2–6 | New York Islanders (1991–92) | 25–31–11 |
| 68 | W | March 11, 1992 | 6–3 | Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 26–31–11 |
| 69 | L | March 14, 1992 | 1–4 | @ New York Islanders (1991–92) | 26–32–11 |
| 70 | W | March 15, 1992 | 6–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 27–32–11 |
| 71 | L | March 17, 1992 | 1–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) | 27–33–11 |
| 72 | W | March 19, 1992 | 8–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) | 28–33–11 |
| 73 | W | March 22, 1992 | 6–2 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) | 29–33–11 |
| 74 | W | March 25, 1992 | 5–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) | 30–33–11 |
| 75 | L | March 28, 1992 | 3–4 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 30–34–11 |
| 76 | T | March 29, 1992 | 2–2 OT | Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 30–34–12 |
| 77 | L | March 31, 1992 | 3–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) | 30–35–12 |
| 78 | W | April 12, 1992 | 3–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 31–35–12 |
| 79 | L | April 14, 1992 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 31–36–12 |
| 80 | L | April 15, 1992 | 3–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 31–37–12 |

## Playoffs

1992 Stanley Cup playoffs
Boston vs. Buffalo :
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 19 | Buffalo 3 | 2 Boston |
| April 21 | Buffalo 2 | 3 Boston | OT |
| April 23 | Boston 3 | 2 Buffalo |
| April 25 | Boston 5 | 4 Buffalo | OT |
| April 27 | Buffalo 2 | 0 Boston |
| April 29 | Boston 3 | 9 Buffalo |
| May 1 | Buffalo 2 | 3 Boston |
| Boston wins series 4–3 ||||

## Awards and records

Led by Rob Ray's 354 penalty minutes, the Buffalo Sabres set an NHL record for team penalty minutes in a season, with 2713.