# 1989–90 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1989–90 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 20th season in the National Hockey League. They finished the season with the third best record in the NHL. The season also featured the NHL debuts of Alexander Mogilny, Rob Ray, and Donald Audette.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 14 | Kevin Haller (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 3 | 56 | Scott Thomas (RW) | United States | Nichols School (USHS-NY) |
| 4 | 77 | Doug MacDonald (C) | Canada | University of Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| 5 | 98 | Ken Sutton (D) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 6 | 107 | Bill Pye (G) | United States | Northern Michigan University (WCHA) |
| 6 | 119 | Mike Barkley (C) | Canada | University of Maine (Hockey East) |
| 8 | 161 | Derek Plante (C) | United States | Cloquet High School (USHS-MN) |
| 9 | 183 | Donald Audette (RW) | Canada | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 194 | Mark Astley (D) | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 10 | 203 | John Nelson (C) | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHL) |
| 11 | 224 | Todd Henderson (G) | Canada | Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL) |
| 12 | 245 | Mike Bavis (RW) | United States | Cushing Academy (USHS-MA) |
| S | 19 | Ian Boyce (LW) | Canada | University of Vermont (Hockey East) |

## Regular season
### Season standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 289 | 232 | 101 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | 286 | 248 | 98 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 288 | 234 | 93 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 275 | 268 | 85 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 12 | 61 | 7 | 240 | 407 | 31 |
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 – Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 289 | 232 | 101 |
| 2 | Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | 286 | 248 | 98 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | ADM | 80 | 41 | 28 | 11 | 288 | 234 | 93 |
| 4 | Hartford Whalers | ADM | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 275 | 268 | 85 |
| 5 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 36 | 31 | 13 | 279 | 267 | 85 |
| 6 | New Jersey Devils | PTK | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 295 | 288 | 83 |
| 7 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 284 | 275 | 78 |
| 8 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 31 | 38 | 11 | 281 | 288 | 73 |
| 9 | Pittsburgh Penguins | PTK | 80 | 32 | 40 | 8 | 318 | 359 | 72 |
| 10 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 30 | 39 | 11 | 290 | 297 | 71 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 12 | 61 | 7 | 240 | 407 | 31 |
Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

### Record vs. opponents
#### Vs. Campbell Conference
## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 5, 1989 | 4–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 7, 1989 | 1–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | T | October 8, 1989 | 2–2 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | W | October 11, 1989 | 7–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | W | October 13, 1989 | 4–1 | Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 3–1–1 |
| 6 | L | October 14, 1989 | 2–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | L | October 18, 1989 | 1–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 3–3–1 |
| 8 | W | October 20, 1989 | 6–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | October 21, 1989 | 4–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | L | October 25, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | W | October 27, 1989 | 6–5 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 6–4–1 |
| 12 | W | October 29, 1989 | 4–3 | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 7–4–1 |
| 13 | W | November 2, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 8–4–1 |
| 14 | T | November 4, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 8–4–2 |
| 15 | W | November 5, 1989 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 9–4–2 |
| 16 | W | November 8, 1989 | 6–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 10–4–2 |
| 17 | W | November 10, 1989 | 4–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 11–4–2 |
| 18 | W | November 12, 1989 | 6–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 12–4–2 |
| 19 | T | November 16, 1989 | 4–4 OT | @ Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 12–4–3 |
| 20 | L | November 17, 1989 | 0–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 12–5–3 |
| 21 | T | November 19, 1989 | 2–2 OT | @ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 12–5–4 |
| 22 | W | November 22, 1989 | 4–1 | New York Rangers (1989–90) | 13–5–4 |
| 23 | W | November 25, 1989 | 3–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 14–5–4 |
| 24 | W | November 26, 1989 | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 15–5–4 |
| 25 | W | November 28, 1989 | 4–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 16–5–4 |
| 26 | L | November 30, 1989 | 1–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 16–6–4 |
| 27 | W | December 1, 1989 | 6–4 | New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 17–6–4 |
| 28 | W | December 3, 1989 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 18–6–4 |
| 29 | L | December 5, 1989 | 0–3 | @ New York Islanders (1989–90) | 18–7–4 |
| 30 | L | December 7, 1989 | 3–4 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 18–8–4 |
| 31 | W | December 10, 1989 | 4–3 | Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 19–8–4 |
| 32 | L | December 13, 1989 | 2–4 | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 19–9–4 |
| 33 | W | December 16, 1989 | 3–1 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 20–9–4 |
| 34 | W | December 17, 1989 | 4–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 21–9–4 |
| 35 | T | December 20, 1989 | 2–2 OT | @ New York Rangers (1989–90) | 21–9–5 |
| 36 | T | December 22, 1989 | 2–2 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 21–9–6 |
| 37 | W | December 23, 1989 | 6–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 22–9–6 |
| 38 | W | December 26, 1989 | 6–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 23–9–6 |
| 39 | L | December 29, 1989 | 3–4 OT | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 23–10–6 |
| 40 | L | December 31, 1989 | 2–4 | New York Islanders (1989–90) | 23–11–6 |
| 41 | L | January 2, 1990 | 3–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 23–12–6 |
| 42 | L | January 6, 1990 | 3–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 23–13–6 |
| 43 | L | January 7, 1990 | 1–2 | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 23–14–6 |
| 44 | L | January 11, 1990 | 3–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 23–15–6 |
| 45 | W | January 13, 1990 | 5–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 24–15–6 |
| 46 | W | January 16, 1990 | 4–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 25–15–6 |
| 47 | L | January 19, 1990 | 3–6 | Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 25–16–6 |
| 48 | W | January 23, 1990 | 3–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 26–16–6 |
| 49 | W | January 24, 1990 | 3–2 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 27–16–6 |
| 50 | L | January 26, 1990 | 2–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 27–17–6 |
| 51 | W | January 28, 1990 | 7–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 28–17–6 |
| 52 | W | January 30, 1990 | 5–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 29–17–6 |
| 53 | W | January 31, 1990 | 6–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 30–17–6 |
| 54 | L | February 3, 1990 | 0–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 30–18–6 |
| 55 | L | February 4, 1990 | 0–1 | New York Islanders (1989–90) | 30–19–6 |
| 56 | W | February 7, 1990 | 3–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 31–19–6 |
| 57 | W | February 9, 1990 | 3–2 | New York Rangers (1989–90) | 32–19–6 |
| 58 | L | February 11, 1990 | 2–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 32–20–6 |
| 59 | L | February 13, 1990 | 1–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 32–21–6 |
| 60 | W | February 16, 1990 | 5–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 33–21–6 |
| 61 | L | February 18, 1990 | 4–6 | Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 33–22–6 |
| 62 | W | February 20, 1990 | 4–3 OT | @ Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 34–22–6 |
| 63 | L | February 21, 1990 | 3–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 34–23–6 |
| 64 | W | February 23, 1990 | 7–3 | Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 35–23–6 |
| 65 | W | February 25, 1990 | 3–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 36–23–6 |
| 66 | L | February 27, 1990 | 1–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 36–24–6 |
| 67 | T | March 3, 1990 | 3–3 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 36–24–7 |
| 68 | W | March 4, 1990 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 37–24–7 |
| 69 | T | March 6, 1990 | 1–1 OT | @ Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 37–24–8 |
| 70 | W | March 8, 1990 | 10–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 38–24–8 |
| 71 | W | March 10, 1990 | 5–0 | @ Hartford Whalers (1989–90) | 39–24–8 |
| 72 | L | March 14, 1990 | 5–6 OT | Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 39–25–8 |
| 73 | L | March 16, 1990 | 3–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 39–26–8 |
| 74 | W | March 18, 1990 | 4–3 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 40–26–8 |
| 75 | W | March 21, 1990 | 5–4 | Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 41–26–8 |
| 76 | L | March 25, 1990 | 3–4 | New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 41–27–8 |
| 77 | W | March 27, 1990 | 6–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 42–27–8 |
| 78 | W | March 29, 1990 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) | 43–27–8 |
| 79 | W | March 31, 1990 | 3–2 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 44–27–8 |
| 80 | W | April 1, 1990 | 5–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 45–27–8 |

## Playoffs

1990 Stanley Cup playoffs
* Montreal won series 4-2

## Awards and records

* Daren Puppa, Goaltender, NHL All-Star Game Appearance
* Pierre Turgeon, Phil Housley, Dave Andreychuk, NHL All-Star Game Appearance
* Daren Puppa, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star