# 1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 11th season of operation for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The team won their second consecutive Adams Division regular season championship. As of 2023 this is the only time the Buffalo Sabres have won consecutive division titles.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
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.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 48 | 18 | 14 | 355 | 260 | 110 |
| 2 | x – St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 45 | 18 | 17 | 352 | 281 | 107 |
| 3 | y – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 45 | 22 | 13 | 332 | 232 | 103 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 43 | 24 | 13 | 337 | 290 | 99 |
| 5 | x – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 41 | 24 | 15 | 313 | 249 | 97 |
| 7 | Calgary Flames | PTK | 80 | 39 | 27 | 14 | 329 | 298 | 92 |
| 8 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| 9 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 31 | 33 | 16 | 304 | 315 | 78 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| 12 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 28 | 32 | 20 | 289 | 301 | 76 |
| 13 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 312 | 317 | 74 |
| 14 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 29 | 35 | 16 | 328 | 327 | 74 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 302 | 345 | 73 |
| 16 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 26 | 36 | 18 | 286 | 317 | 70 |
| 18 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 292 | 372 | 60 |
| 19 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 22 | 45 | 13 | 258 | 344 | 57 |
| 20 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 19 | 43 | 18 | 252 | 339 | 56 |
| 21 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 9 | 57 | 14 | 246 | 400 | 32 |
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference. x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Boston
—2–1–12–1–11–31–1–26–6–4
Buffalo
1–2–1—0–1–33–0–13–17–4–5
Minnesota
1–2–11–0–3—2–20–44–8–4
Quebec
3–10–3–12–2—0–2–25–8–3
Toronto
1–1–21–34–02–0–2—8–4–4
Vs. Norris Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Boston
2−0−21−1−22−21−33−0−19–6–5
Buffalo
3−0−12−1−12−1−11−33−0−111–5–4
Minnesota
2−0−23−10−42−1−13−110–7–3
Quebec
3−0−12−21−31−1−21−2–18–8–4
Toronto
1−31–1−20−3−11−32−1–15–11–4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CGY
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Boston
1–32–22–22–22–1–19–10–1
Buffalo
2–1–12–22–1–12–0–22–0–210–4–6
Minnesota
2–20–2–21–1–21–2–13–0–17–7–6
Quebec
1–1–21–31–1–22–1–14–09–6–5
Toronto
2–21–32–22–0–21–38–10–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
3−12−1−13−11−32−22−0−213−8−3
Buffalo
2−23–0−11−1−20−3−11−1−24−011−7−6
Minnesota
2−22−1–12−1−12−1–12−1−14−014−6−4
Quebec
0−3−12−23−11−2–11–1−21–1−28−10−6
Toronto
2−1–11−1−21−2−11−30–3−12−27−12−5 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 9, 1980 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | T | October 12, 1980 | 3–3 | Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 0–1–1 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1980 | 2–0 | Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | W | October 18, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | L | October 19, 1980 | 2–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | W | October 22, 1980 | 7–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | W | October 25, 1980 | 5–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 4–2–1 |
| 8 | W | October 26, 1980 | 5–2 | New York Islanders (1980–81) | 5–2–1 |
| 9 | T | October 29, 1980 | 1–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 5–2–2 |
| 10 | W | November 1, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 6–2–2 |
| 11 | W | November 2, 1980 | 4–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 7–2–2 |
| 12 | W | November 5, 1980 | 5–3 | Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 8–2–2 |
| 13 | T | November 8, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 8–2–3 |
| 14 | T | November 9, 1980 | 3–3 | Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 8–2–4 |
| 15 | T | November 12, 1980 | 4–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 8–2–5 |
| 16 | L | November 15, 1980 | 1–4 | @ New York Islanders (1980–81) | 8–3–5 |
| 17 | W | November 16, 1980 | 8–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 9–3–5 |
| 18 | L | November 19, 1980 | 2–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 9–4–5 |
| 19 | W | November 21, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 10–4–5 |
| 20 | L | November 23, 1980 | 3–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 10–5–5 |
| 21 | L | November 25, 1980 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 10–6–5 |
| 22 | W | November 27, 1980 | 6–3 | Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 11–6–5 |
| 23 | W | November 29, 1980 | 5–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 12–6–5 |
| 24 | W | November 30, 1980 | 4–1 | Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 13–6–5 |
| 25 | L | December 3, 1980 | 5–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 13–7–5 |
| 26 | T | December 6, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 13–7–6 |
| 27 | W | December 7, 1980 | 10–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 14–7–6 |
| 28 | T | December 9, 1980 | 4–4 | @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 14–7–7 |
| 29 | L | December 11, 1980 | 4–8 | @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 14–8–7 |
| 30 | W | December 13, 1980 | 5–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 15–8–7 |
| 31 | T | December 14, 1980 | 2–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 15–8–8 |
| 32 | W | December 20, 1980 | 7–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 16–8–8 |
| 33 | T | December 21, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 16–8–9 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1980 | 3–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 17–8–9 |
| 35 | W | December 28, 1980 | 5–2 | Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 18–8–9 |
| 36 | L | December 31, 1980 | 2–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 18–9–9 |
| 37 | T | January 3, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 18–9–10 |
| 38 | T | January 4, 1981 | 2–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 18–9–11 |
| 39 | W | January 7, 1981 | 5–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 19–9–11 |
| 40 | T | January 9, 1981 | 3–3 | @ New York Rangers (1980–81) | 19–9–12 |
| 41 | T | January 11, 1981 | 4–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 19–9–13 |
| 42 | T | January 14, 1981 | 1–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 19–9–14 |
| 43 | T | January 16, 1981 | 5–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 19–9–15 |
| 44 | W | January 18, 1981 | 4–0 | New York Rangers (1980–81) | 20–9–15 |
| 45 | L | January 19, 1981 | 1–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 20–10–15 |
| 46 | W | January 21, 1981 | 6–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 21–10–15 |
| 47 | W | January 24, 1981 | 7–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 22–10–15 |
| 48 | W | January 26, 1981 | 5–3 | @ New York Islanders (1980–81) | 23–10–15 |
| 49 | T | January 28, 1981 | 4–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 23–10–16 |
| 50 | W | January 31, 1981 | 5–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 24–10–16 |
| 51 | W | February 1, 1981 | 4–0 | Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 25–10–16 |
| 52 | W | February 5, 1981 | 4–0 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 26–10–16 |
| 53 | W | February 6, 1981 | 7–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 27–10–16 |
| 54 | T | February 8, 1981 | 3–3 | St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 27–10–17 |
| 55 | W | February 12, 1981 | 6–3 | Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 28–10–17 |
| 56 | T | February 14, 1981 | 4–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 28–10–18 |
| 57 | T | February 15, 1981 | 2–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 28–10–19 |
| 58 | L | February 19, 1981 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 28–11–19 |
| 59 | W | February 21, 1981 | 6–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 29–11–19 |
| 60 | L | February 22, 1981 | 2–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 29–12–19 |
| 61 | L | February 25, 1981 | 3–6 | @ New York Rangers (1980–81) | 29–13–19 |
| 62 | W | February 27, 1981 | 6–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 30–13–19 |
| 63 | L | March 1, 1981 | 4–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 30–14–19 |
| 64 | W | March 4, 1981 | 4–0 | Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 31–14–19 |
| 65 | L | March 6, 1981 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 31–15–19 |
| 66 | W | March 8, 1981 | 8–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 32–15–19 |
| 67 | L | March 11, 1981 | 1–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 32–16–19 |
| 68 | W | March 13, 1981 | 5–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 33–16–19 |
| 69 | L | March 14, 1981 | 1–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 33–17–19 |
| 70 | W | March 17, 1981 | 3–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 34–17–19 |
| 71 | W | March 19, 1981 | 14–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 35–17–19 |
| 72 | W | March 21, 1981 | 6–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 36–17–19 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1981 | 5–6 | St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 36–18–19 |
| 74 | W | March 25, 1981 | 4–2 | New York Rangers (1980–81) | 37–18–19 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1981 | 5–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 38–18–19 |
| 76 | L | March 28, 1981 | 4–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 38–19–19 |
| 77 | T | March 30, 1981 | 2–2 | Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 38–19–20 |
| 78 | T | April 2, 1981 | 2–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 38–19–21 |
| 79 | W | April 4, 1981 | 5–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) | 39–19–21 |
| 80 | L | April 5, 1981 | 3–7 | New York Islanders (1980–81) | 39–20–21 |

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 20 | Steve Patrick | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 2 | 41 | Mike Moller | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 3 | 56 | Sean McKenna | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 62 | Jay North | United States | Bloomington Jefferson High School (USHS-MN) |
| 4 | 83 | Jim Wiemer | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
| 5 | 104 | Dirk Reuter | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 125 | Daniel Naud | Canada | Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 146 | Jari Paavola | Finland | TPS (Finland) |
| 8 | 167 | Randy Cunneyworth | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 9 | 188 | Dave Beckon | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
| 10 | 209 | John Bader | United States | Irondale High School (USHS-MN) |