# 1979–80 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1979–80 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' tenth season of operation for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The team was awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy for finishing with the best regular season record in the Prince of Wales Conference.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 11 | Mike Ramsey (D) | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 2 | 32 | Lindy Ruff (D) | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 3 | 53 | Mark Robinson (D) | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 3 | 55 | Jacques Cloutier (G) | Canada | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 74 | Gilles Hamel (LW) | Canada | Laval National (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 95 | Alan Haworth (C) | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 116 | Rick Knickle (G) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |

## Regular season
### Season standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 47 | 17 | 16 | 318 | 201 | 110 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 310 | 234 | 105 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 311 | 253 | 88 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 304 | 327 | 75 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 25 | 44 | 11 | 248 | 313 | 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.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 48 | 12 | 20 | 327 | 254 | 116 |
| 2 | y – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 47 | 17 | 16 | 318 | 201 | 110 |
| 3 | x – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 328 | 240 | 107 |
| 4 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 310 | 234 | 105 |
| 5 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 39 | 28 | 13 | 281 | 247 | 91 |
| 6 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 311 | 253 | 88 |
| 7 | x – Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| 8 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 308 | 284 | 86 |
| 9 | Atlanta Flames | PTK | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | 282 | 269 | 83 |
| 10 | St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 304 | 327 | 75 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 290 | 313 | 74 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 251 | 303 | 73 |
| 14 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 27 | 34 | 19 | 303 | 312 | 73 |
| 15 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| 16 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | 261 | 293 | 67 |
| 18 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 268 | 306 | 63 |
| 19 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 25 | 44 | 11 | 248 | 313 | 61 |
| 20 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| 21 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
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
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Boston
—2–1–12–24–04–012–3–1
Buffalo
1–2–1—2–1–13–14–010–4–2
Minnesota
2–21–2–1—2–1–12–27–7–2
Quebec
0–41–31–2–1—3–15–10–1
Toronto
0–40–42–21–3—3–13–0
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Boston
2–1–12–1–12–1–11–32–29–8–3
Buffalo
3–13–13–0–11–1–24–014–3–3
Minnesota
1–2–14–00–2–21–33–19–8–3
Quebec
1–2–11–1–21–31–2–12–26–10–4
Toronto
4–02–20–3–11–32–29–10–1
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Boston
4–03–12–21–1–22–1–112–5–3
Buffalo
3–0–12–1–12–1–10–3–14–011–5–4
Minnesota
1–1–22–0–22–1–11–33–0–19–5–6
Quebec
0–3–10–41–2–10–3–11–1–22–13–5
Toronto
3–11–32–21–1–23–110–8–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
2−22−1−14−01−1−21−0−33−113−5−6
Buffalo
1−1−23−12−1−12−21−0−33−0−112−5−7
Minnesota
1−2−13−11−1−23−11−2−12−1−111−8−5
Quebec
1−2−13−12−22−22−22−212−11−1
Toronto
0−43−0−11−2−12−23−14−013−9−2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 11, 1979 | 6–3 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 13, 1979 | 5–2 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 14, 1979 | 4–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | W | October 17, 1979 | 3–1 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | L | October 20, 1979 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 3–2–0 |
| 6 | T | October 21, 1979 | 3–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | W | October 24, 1979 | 7–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 4–2–1 |
| 8 | L | October 25, 1979 | 0–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 4–3–1 |
| 9 | W | October 27, 1979 | 3–0 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 5–3–1 |
| 10 | W | October 28, 1979 | 4–2 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 6–3–1 |
| 11 | T | October 31, 1979 | 0–0 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 6–3–2 |
| 12 | W | November 3, 1979 | 4–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 7–3–2 |
| 13 | L | November 4, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 7–4–2 |
| 14 | T | November 8, 1979 | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 7–4–3 |
| 15 | W | November 10, 1979 | 5–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 8–4–3 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1979 | 3–5 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 8–5–3 |
| 17 | W | November 15, 1979 | 5–1 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 9–5–3 |
| 18 | W | November 17, 1979 | 4–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 10–5–3 |
| 19 | W | November 18, 1979 | 9–7 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 11–5–3 |
| 20 | L | November 21, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 11–6–3 |
| 21 | W | November 24, 1979 | 6–1 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 12–6–3 |
| 22 | W | November 25, 1979 | 6–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 13–6–3 |
| 23 | W | November 27, 1979 | 5–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 14–6–3 |
| 24 | W | November 29, 1979 | 2–1 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 15–6–3 |
| 25 | W | December 2, 1979 | 2–0 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 16–6–3 |
| 26 | W | December 5, 1979 | 6–1 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 17–6–3 |
| 27 | W | December 7, 1979 | 5–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 18–6–3 |
| 28 | W | December 10, 1979 | 4–0 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 19–6–3 |
| 29 | W | December 13, 1979 | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 20–6–3 |
| 30 | L | December 15, 1979 | 2–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 20–7–3 |
| 31 | L | December 16, 1979 | 1–5 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 20–8–3 |
| 32 | W | December 19, 1979 | 3–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 21–8–3 |
| 33 | W | December 20, 1979 | 5–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 22–8–3 |
| 34 | W | December 22, 1979 | 4–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 23–8–3 |
| 35 | L | December 23, 1979 | 1–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 23–9–3 |
| 36 | W | December 27, 1979 | 5–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 24–9–3 |
| 37 | L | December 29, 1979 | 3–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 24–10–3 |
| 38 | W | December 31, 1979 | 6–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 25–10–3 |
| 39 | W | January 5, 1980 | 5–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 26–10–3 |
| 40 | L | January 6, 1980 | 2–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 26–11–3 |
| 41 | W | January 9, 1980 | 3–2 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 27–11–3 |
| 42 | W | January 11, 1980 | 4–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 28–11–3 |
| 43 | L | January 13, 1980 | 5–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 28–12–3 |
| 44 | W | January 16, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 29–12–3 |
| 45 | T | January 18, 1980 | 2–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 29–12–4 |
| 46 | T | January 20, 1980 | 4–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 29–12–5 |
| 47 | T | January 21, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 29–12–6 |
| 48 | L | January 24, 1980 | 3–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 29–13–6 |
| 49 | W | January 26, 1980 | 7–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 30–13–6 |
| 50 | W | January 27, 1980 | 9–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 31–13–6 |
| 51 | W | January 31, 1980 | 6–2 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 32–13–6 |
| 52 | L | February 2, 1980 | 2–3 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 32–14–6 |
| 53 | W | February 3, 1980 | 3–0 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 33–14–6 |
| 54 | W | February 7, 1980 | 9–0 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 34–14–6 |
| 55 | L | February 9, 1980 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 34–15–6 |
| 56 | W | February 11, 1980 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 35–15–6 |
| 57 | T | February 14, 1980 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 35–15–7 |
| 58 | W | February 16, 1980 | 4–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 36–15–7 |
| 59 | T | February 17, 1980 | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 36–15–8 |
| 60 | W | February 19, 1980 | 3–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 37–15–8 |
| 61 | W | February 20, 1980 | 4–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 38–15–8 |
| 62 | L | February 24, 1980 | 1–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 38–16–8 |
| 63 | T | February 27, 1980 | 1–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 38–16–9 |
| 64 | W | February 29, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 39–16–9 |
| 65 | T | March 2, 1980 | 2–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 39–16–10 |
| 66 | L | March 5, 1980 | 2–4 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 39–17–10 |
| 67 | W | March 6, 1980 | 4–3 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 40–17–10 |
| 68 | W | March 9, 1980 | 9–4 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 41–17–10 |
| 69 | T | March 12, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 41–17–11 |
| 70 | T | March 15, 1980 | 2–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 41–17–12 |
| 71 | T | March 19, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 41–17–13 |
| 72 | W | March 22, 1980 | 5–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 42–17–13 |
| 73 | T | March 23, 1980 | 1–1 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 42–17–14 |
| 74 | T | March 25, 1980 | 3–3 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 42–17–15 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1980 | 10–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 43–17–15 |
| 76 | T | March 30, 1980 | 1–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 43–17–16 |
| 77 | W | April 1, 1980 | 5–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 44–17–16 |
| 78 | W | April 3, 1980 | 8–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 45–17–16 |
| 79 | W | April 5, 1980 | 9–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 46–17–16 |
| 80 | W | April 6, 1980 | 7–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 47–17–16 |

## Playoffs

* First round
** No. 2 seed Buffalo over No. 15 seed Vancouver (3 games to 1)
* Second round
** No. 2 seed Buffalo over No. 7 seed Chicago (4 games to 0)
* Third round
** No. 5 seed New York Islanders over No. 2 seed Buffalo (4 games to 2)

## Awards and records

* Prince of Wales Trophy
* NHL Plus/Minus Award Jim Schoenfeld
* Bob Sauve and Don Edwards, Vezina Trophy
* Danny Gare, NHL Goals Leader
* Don Edwards, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Danny Gare, Right Wing, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Jim Schoenfeld, Defenceman, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Bob Sauve, posted league's lowest goals against average.