# 1988–89 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1988–89 Buffalo Sabres season, the team's 19th season of existence, saw the Sabres finish in third place in the Adams Division with a record of 38 wins, 35 losses, and 7 ties for 83 points. They lost the Division Semifinals in five games to the Boston Bruins.

## Regular season
### Clint Malarchuk incident

On March 22, 1989, a horrific incident occurred during a game between the Sabres and the St. Louis Blues at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, when Buffalo goaltender Clint Malarchuk had his jugular vein severed by the skate blade of the Blues' Steve Tuttle during a goal mouth collision. According to reports, eleven fans in the stands fainted, two more had heart attacks, and three players vomited on the ice. The Sabres' training staff was immediately on the scene, and Malarchuk eventually needed 300 stitches to close the wound. Malarchuk spent only one night in the hospital before returning to practice four days later and was back on the ice within 10 days.

### Season standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 53 | 18 | 9 | 315 | 218 | 115 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 29 | 14 | 289 | 256 | 88 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 38 | 35 | 7 | 291 | 299 | 83 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 37 | 38 | 5 | 299 | 290 | 79 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 27 | 46 | 7 | 269 | 342 | 61 |
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
#### Vs. Wales Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | BOS | BUF | HFD | MTL | QUE | Total |
| Boston | — | 0–5–3 | 5–3 | 0–7–1 | 4–1–3 | 9–16–7 |
| Buffalo | 5–0–3 | — | 3–5 | 3–5 | 3–4–1 | 14–13–5 |
| Hartford | 3–5 | 5–3 | — | 1–7 | 4–3–1 | 13–18–1 |
| Montreal | 7–0–1 | 5–3 | 7–1 | — | 4–4 | 23–8–1 |
| Quebec | 1–4–3 | 4–3–1 | 3–4–1 | 4–4 | — | 12–15–5 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | NJD | NYI | NYR | PHI | PIT | WSH | Total |
| Boston | 2–0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 1–1–1 | 9–4–5 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 11–7–0 |
| Hartford | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 9–8–1 |
| Montreal | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 11–4–3 |
| Quebec | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 7–10–1 |

#### Vs. Campbell Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CHI | DET | MIN | STL | TOR | Total |
| Boston | 3–0 | 0–2–1 | 0–2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 9–4–2 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 8–5–2 |
| Hartford | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 9–4–2 |
| Montreal | 1–0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0–2 | 2–0–1 | 2–1 | 7–3–5 |
| Quebec | 0–2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 4–10–1 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CGY | EDM | LAK | VAN | WIN | Total |
| Boston | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 10–5–0 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 5–9–1 |
| Hartford | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 6–8–1 |
| Montreal | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 12–3–0 |
| Quebec | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–11–0 |

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 6, 1988 | 3–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 8, 1988 | 2–6 | @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 9, 1988 | 3–4 OT | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | W | October 12, 1988 | 8–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | W | October 14, 1988 | 5–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | L | October 16, 1988 | 3–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | L | October 19, 1988 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | W | October 21, 1988 | 5–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 4–4–0 |
| 9 | L | October 22, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 4–5–0 |
| 10 | W | October 25, 1988 | 7–4 | @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 5–5–0 |
| 11 | L | October 26, 1988 | 1–7 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 5–6–0 |
| 12 | T | October 29, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 5–6–1 |
| 13 | T | October 30, 1988 | 3–3 OT | Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 5–6–2 |
| 14 | W | November 2, 1988 | 6–4 | New York Rangers (1988–89) | 6–6–2 |
| 15 | L | November 4, 1988 | 3–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 6–7–2 |
| 16 | L | November 5, 1988 | 0–9 | @ Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 6–8–2 |
| 17 | W | November 9, 1988 | 3–2 | Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 7–8–2 |
| 18 | W | November 12, 1988 | 3–0 | @ New York Islanders (1988–89) | 8–8–2 |
| 19 | L | November 13, 1988 | 4–5 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 8–9–2 |
| 20 | L | November 16, 1988 | 2–3 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 8–10–2 |
| 21 | L | November 19, 1988 | 4–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 8–11–2 |
| 22 | L | November 22, 1988 | 2–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 8–12–2 |
| 23 | W | November 25, 1988 | 5–4 OT | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 9–12–2 |
| 24 | W | November 27, 1988 | 7–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 10–12–2 |
| 25 | W | November 30, 1988 | 6–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 11–12–2 |
| 26 | L | December 2, 1988 | 1–6 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 11–13–2 |
| 27 | L | December 3, 1988 | 2–3 OT | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 11–14–2 |
| 28 | L | December 6, 1988 | 0–9 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 11–15–2 |
| 29 | W | December 8, 1988 | 4–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 12–15–2 |
| 30 | L | December 11, 1988 | 4–6 | Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 12–16–2 |
| 31 | L | December 14, 1988 | 3–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 12–17–2 |
| 32 | T | December 15, 1988 | 2–2 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 12–17–3 |
| 33 | T | December 19, 1988 | 5–5 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1988–89) | 12–17–4 |
| 34 | W | December 21, 1988 | 5–2 | @ New York Rangers (1988–89) | 13–17–4 |
| 35 | W | December 23, 1988 | 5–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 14–17–4 |
| 36 | W | December 26, 1988 | 2–1 | Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 15–17–4 |
| 37 | W | December 28, 1988 | 4–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 16–17–4 |
| 38 | L | December 30, 1988 | 3–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1988–89) | 16–18–4 |
| 39 | L | December 31, 1988 | 2–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89) | 16–19–4 |
| 40 | L | January 4, 1989 | 4–5 OT | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 16–20–4 |
| 41 | L | January 6, 1989 | 4–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 16–21–4 |
| 42 | W | January 7, 1989 | 6–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89) | 17–21–4 |
| 43 | W | January 12, 1989 | 6–5 | Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89) | 18–21–4 |
| 44 | T | January 14, 1989 | 1–1 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 18–21–5 |
| 45 | W | January 15, 1989 | 3–2 | Calgary Flames (1988–89) | 19–21–5 |
| 46 | T | January 18, 1989 | 3–3 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 19–21–6 |
| 47 | W | January 21, 1989 | 6–5 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 20–21–6 |
| 48 | W | January 22, 1989 | 6–4 | Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 21–21–6 |
| 49 | W | January 25, 1989 | 6–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 22–21–6 |
| 50 | W | January 27, 1989 | 4–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 23–21–6 |
| 51 | L | January 28, 1989 | 1–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 23–22–6 |
| 52 | W | January 31, 1989 | 5–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 24–22–6 |
| 53 | L | February 2, 1989 | 3–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 24–23–6 |
| 54 | L | February 4, 1989 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 24–24–6 |
| 55 | L | February 9, 1989 | 2–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 24–25–6 |
| 56 | L | February 10, 1989 | 4–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 24–26–6 |
| 57 | W | February 12, 1989 | 5–2 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 25–26–6 |
| 58 | L | February 14, 1989 | 3–7 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 25–27–6 |
| 59 | W | February 15, 1989 | 5–3 | New Jersey Devils (1988–89) | 26–27–6 |
| 60 | W | February 17, 1989 | 5–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89) | 27–27–6 |
| 61 | W | February 19, 1989 | 8–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1988–89) | 28–27–6 |
| 62 | W | February 22, 1989 | 7–5 | New York Islanders (1988–89) | 29–27–6 |
| 63 | W | February 24, 1989 | 5–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 30–27–6 |
| 64 | L | February 25, 1989 | 1–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 30–28–6 |
| 65 | L | March 1, 1989 | 4–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1988–89) | 30–29–6 |
| 66 | L | March 4, 1989 | 2–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 30–30–6 |
| 67 | L | March 5, 1989 | 2–8 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 30–31–6 |
| 68 | W | March 8, 1989 | 2–0 | @ New York Rangers (1988–89) | 31–31–6 |
| 69 | T | March 11, 1989 | 6–6 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 31–31–7 |
| 70 | W | March 12, 1989 | 3–2 | Boston Bruins (1988–89) | 32–31–7 |
| 71 | W | March 16, 1989 | 6–1 | @ Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 33–31–7 |
| 72 | L | March 18, 1989 | 0–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89) | 33–32–7 |
| 73 | W | March 20, 1989 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89) | 34–32–7 |
| 74 | L | March 22, 1989 | 1–2 | St. Louis Blues (1988–89) | 34–33–7 |
| 75 | W | March 24, 1989 | 5–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1988–89) | 35–33–7 |
| 76 | L | March 25, 1989 | 1–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 35–34–7 |
| 77 | W | March 28, 1989 | 4–2 | Hartford Whalers (1988–89) | 36–34–7 |
| 78 | L | March 30, 1989 | 2–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1988–89) | 36–35–7 |
| 79 | W | April 1, 1989 | 4–3 | @ New York Islanders (1988–89) | 37–35–7 |
| 80 | W | April 2, 1989 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1988–89) | 38–35–7 |

## Playoffs
### Division semifinals

1989 Stanley Cup playoffs Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score |
| April 5 | Buffalo Sabres | 6 | Boston Bruins | 0 |
| April 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 3 | Boston Bruins | 5 |
| April 8 | Boston Bruins | 4 | Buffalo Sabres | 2 |
| April 9 | Boston Bruins | 3 | Buffalo Sabres | 2 |
| April 11 | Buffalo Sabres | 1 | Boston Bruins | 4 |
Boston wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Pierre Turgeon | 80 | 34 | 54 | 88 | 26 |
| Christian Ruuttu | 67 | 14 | 46 | 60 | 98 |
| Dave Andreychuk | 56 | 28 | 24 | 52 | 40 |
| Mike Foligno | 75 | 27 | 22 | 49 | 156 |
| Benoit Hogue | 69 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 120 |
| John Tucker | 60 | 13 | 31 | 44 | 31 |
| Ray Sheppard | 67 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 15 |
| Scott Arniel | 80 | 18 | 23 | 41 | 46 |
| Rick Vaive | 28 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 64 |
| Mark Napier | 66 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 33 |
| Kevin Maguire | 60 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 241 |
| Jeff Parker | 57 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 82 |
| Adam Creighton | 24 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 44 |
| Mike Hartman | 70 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 316 |
| Mike Donnelly | 22 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 10 |
| Ken Priestlay | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Scott Metcalfe | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| Jan Ludvig | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 39 |
| Mikael Andersson | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Trent Kaese | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darrin Shannon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Phil Housley | 72 | 26 | 44 | 70 | 47 |
| Doug Bodger | 61 | 7 | 40 | 47 | 52 |
| Uwe Krupp | 70 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 55 |
| Lindy Ruff | 63 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 86 |
| Mike Ramsey | 56 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 84 |
| Calle Johansson | 47 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 33 |
| Shawn Anderson | 33 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 18 |
| Grant Ledyard | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Joe Reekie | 15 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 26 |
| Larry Playfair | 42 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 110 |
| Richie Dunn | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Bob Halkidis | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 66 |
| Mark Ferner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Brad Miller | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Steve Smith | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Daren Puppa | 37 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3.36 |
| Jacques Cloutier | 36 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3.63 |
| Clint Malarchuk | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.39 |
| Tom Barrasso | 10 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4.95 |
| Darcy Wakaluk | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4.21 |
| Darren Eliot | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.27 |

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 13 | Joel Savage | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 3 | 55 | Darcy Loewen | Canada | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 4 | 76 | Keith Carney | United States | Mount Saint Charles Academy (USHS-RI) |
| 5 | 89 | Alexander Mogilny | Soviet Union | CSKA Moscow (USSR) |
| 5 | 97 | Rob Ray | Canada | Cornwall Royals (OHL) |
| 6 | 106 | David DiVita | United States | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 6 | 118 | Mike McLaughlin | United States | Choate Rosemary Hall (USHS-CT) |
| 7 | 139 | Mike Griffith | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 8 | 160 | Dan Ruoho | United States | James Madison Memorial High School (USHS-WI) |
| 9 | 181 | Wade Flaherty | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 11 | 223 | Tom Nieman | United States | Choate Rosemary Hall (USHS-CT) |
| 12 | 244 | Bobby Wallwork | United States | Miami University (CCHA) |
| S | 18 | Clark Davies | United States | Ferris State University (CCHA) |