# 1987–88 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1987–88 Buffalo Sabres season was the 18th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 45 | 22 | 13 | 298 | 238 | 103 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 44 | 30 | 6 | 300 | 251 | 94 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 37 | 32 | 11 | 283 | 305 | 85 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 35 | 38 | 7 | 249 | 267 | 77 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 32 | 43 | 5 | 271 | 306 | 69 |
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

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Boston
—4–3–14–3–13–4–15–316–13–3
Buffalo
3–4–1—3–4–13–3–25–2–114–13–5
Hartford
3–4–14–3–1—2–4–22–611–17–4
Montreal
4–3–13–3–24–2−2—6–217–10–5
Quebec
3–52–5–16–22–6—13–18–1
Vs. Patrick Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
2–11–21–21–22–0–11–28–9–1
Buffalo
2–0–11–23–00–30–2–12–0–18–7–3
Hartford
1–1–11–21–21–21–21–26–11–1
Montreal
1–23–01–1–11–0–21–21–1–18–6–4
Quebec
3–01–21–20–2–10–31–26–11–1
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Boston
3–01–23–01–22–110–5–0
Buffalo
2–11–21–1–13–03–010–4–1
Hartford
2–12–13–01–23–011–4–0
Montreal
2–0–12–11–1–12–13–010–3–2
Quebec
2–0–13–02–11–23–011–3–1
Vs. Smythe Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
2–11–1–12–0–12–13–010–3–2
Buffalo
1–20–32–11–1–11–1–15–8–2
Hartford
0–31–23–01–0–22–17–6–2
Montreal
0–2–13–02–12–0–13–010–3–2
Quebec
0–31–1–11–20–30–2–12–11–2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | T | October 8, 1987 | 2–2 OT | Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | L | October 10, 1987 | 3–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 0–1–1 |
| 3 | W | October 11, 1987 | 6–5 | Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | L | October 13, 1987 | 3–8 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 1–2–1 |
| 5 | T | October 16, 1987 | 2–2 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 1–2–2 |
| 6 | W | October 17, 1987 | 6–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 2–2–2 |
| 7 | L | October 21, 1987 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 2–3–2 |
| 8 | W | October 23, 1987 | 5–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 3–3–2 |
| 9 | L | October 24, 1987 | 3–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 3–4–2 |
| 10 | T | October 28, 1987 | 2–2 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 3–4–3 |
| 11 | W | October 30, 1987 | 5–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 4–4–3 |
| 12 | W | November 1, 1987 | 5–3 | Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 5–4–3 |
| 13 | W | November 4, 1987 | 5–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 6–4–3 |
| 14 | L | November 7, 1987 | 0–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 6–5–3 |
| 15 | W | November 8, 1987 | 6–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 7–5–3 |
| 16 | T | November 11, 1987 | 4–4 OT | @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 7–5–4 |
| 17 | L | November 13, 1987 | 4–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 7–6–4 |
| 18 | W | November 15, 1987 | 5–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 8–6–4 |
| 19 | L | November 18, 1987 | 1–9 | @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 8–7–4 |
| 20 | W | November 20, 1987 | 5–3 | Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 9–7–4 |
| 21 | L | November 22, 1987 | 5–8 | Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) | 9–8–4 |
| 22 | L | November 25, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 9–9–4 |
| 23 | L | November 27, 1987 | 2–4 | Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 9–10–4 |
| 24 | L | November 29, 1987 | 2–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 9–11–4 |
| 25 | W | December 3, 1987 | 6–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 10–11–4 |
| 26 | L | December 5, 1987 | 1–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 10–12–4 |
| 27 | L | December 6, 1987 | 1–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 10–13–4 |
| 28 | W | December 9, 1987 | 6–2 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 11–13–4 |
| 29 | T | December 12, 1987 | 3–3 OT | @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 11–13–5 |
| 30 | L | December 13, 1987 | 1–7 | Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 11–14–5 |
| 31 | T | December 18, 1987 | 2–2 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 11–14–6 |
| 32 | W | December 19, 1987 | 2–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 12–14–6 |
| 33 | L | December 22, 1987 | 0–9 | @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 12–15–6 |
| 34 | W | December 23, 1987 | 5–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) | 13–15–6 |
| 35 | T | December 27, 1987 | 3–3 OT | Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) | 13–15–7 |
| 36 | L | December 29, 1987 | 1–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 13–16–7 |
| 37 | L | December 31, 1987 | 0–2 | Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 13–17–7 |
| 38 | W | January 2, 1988 | 6–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 14–17–7 |
| 39 | W | January 3, 1988 | 2–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 15–17–7 |
| 40 | W | January 6, 1988 | 6–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 16–17–7 |
| 41 | W | January 8, 1988 | 3–1 | Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 17–17–7 |
| 42 | W | January 10, 1988 | 4–3 | New York Rangers (1987–88) | 18–17–7 |
| 43 | W | January 12, 1988 | 4–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 19–17–7 |
| 44 | L | January 14, 1988 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 19–18–7 |
| 45 | L | January 16, 1988 | 1–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 19–19–7 |
| 46 | W | January 17, 1988 | 5–2 | New York Islanders (1987–88) | 20–19–7 |
| 47 | W | January 20, 1988 | 5–3 | Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 21–19–7 |
| 48 | W | January 22, 1988 | 7–3 | New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 22–19–7 |
| 49 | T | January 23, 1988 | 3–3 OT | @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) | 22–19–8 |
| 50 | W | January 25, 1988 | 5–2 | @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 23–19–8 |
| 51 | L | January 27, 1988 | 1–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 23–20–8 |
| 52 | L | January 29, 1988 | 2–5 | New York Islanders (1987–88) | 23–21–8 |
| 53 | T | January 31, 1988 | 4–4 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 23–21–9 |
| 54 | W | February 2, 1988 | 6–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 24–21–9 |
| 55 | W | February 5, 1988 | 5–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) | 25–21–9 |
| 56 | L | February 6, 1988 | 4–6 | @ New York Islanders (1987–88) | 25–22–9 |
| 57 | L | February 12, 1988 | 5–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 25–23–9 |
| 58 | L | February 14, 1988 | 3–4 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) | 25–24–9 |
| 59 | W | February 16, 1988 | 3–0 | @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 26–24–9 |
| 60 | L | February 19, 1988 | 4–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) | 26–25–9 |
| 61 | L | February 21, 1988 | 5–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 26–26–9 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1988 | 5–2 | St. Louis Blues (1987–88) | 27–26–9 |
| 63 | W | February 27, 1988 | 4–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 28–26–9 |
| 64 | W | February 28, 1988 | 5–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) | 29–26–9 |
| 65 | L | March 1, 1988 | 0–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) | 29–27–9 |
| 66 | W | March 4, 1988 | 6–3 | New York Rangers (1987–88) | 30–27–9 |
| 67 | W | March 6, 1988 | 3–0 | Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 31–27–9 |
| 68 | W | March 9, 1988 | 6–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) | 32–27–9 |
| 69 | L | March 12, 1988 | 4–10 | @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) | 32–28–9 |
| 70 | W | March 13, 1988 | 7–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) | 33–28–9 |
| 71 | L | March 15, 1988 | 4–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) | 33–29–9 |
| 72 | W | March 19, 1988 | 4–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 34–29–9 |
| 73 | L | March 20, 1988 | 2–6 | Boston Bruins (1987–88) | 34–30–9 |
| 74 | W | March 22, 1988 | 3–2 | @ New York Rangers (1987–88) | 35–30–9 |
| 75 | T | March 25, 1988 | 2–2 OT | New Jersey Devils (1987–88) | 35–30–10 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1988 | 3–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) | 35–31–10 |
| 77 | W | March 29, 1988 | 3–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) | 36–31–10 |
| 78 | W | March 31, 1988 | 3–2 | Hartford Whalers (1987–88) | 37–31–10 |
| 79 | L | April 2, 1988 | 4–9 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 37–32–10 |
| 80 | T | April 3, 1988 | 4–4 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) | 37–32–11 |

## Playoffs

1988 Stanley Cup playoffs
| Date | Away | Score | Home | Score | Notes |
| April 6 | Buffalo | 3 | Boston | 7 | |
| April 7 | Buffalo | 1 | Boston | 4 | |
| April 9 | Boston | 2 | Buffalo | 6 | |
| April 10 | Boston | 5 | Buffalo | 6 | OT |
| April 12 | Buffalo | 4 | Boston | 5 | |
| April 14 | Boston | 5 | Buffalo | 2 | |
Boston wins best-of-seven series 4–2.

## Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 1 | Pierre Turgeon | Canada | Granby Bisons (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 22 | Brad Miller | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 3 | 53 | Andrew MacVicar | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 4 | 84 | John Bradley | United States | New Hampton School (USHS-NH) |
| 5 | 85 | Dave Pergola | United States | Belmont High School (USHS-MA) |
| 6 | 106 | Chris Marshall | United States | Boston College High School (USHS-MA) |
| 7 | 127 | Paul Flanagan | United States | New Hampton School (USHS-NH) |
| 8 | 148 | Sean Dooley | United States | Groton School (USHS-CT) |
| 8 | 153 | Tim Roberts | United States | Deerfield Academy (USHS-MA) |
| 9 | 169 | Grant Tkachuk | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 10 | 190 | Ian Herbers | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
| 11 | 211 | David Littman | United States | Boston College (Hockey East) |
| 12 | 232 | Al MacIsaac | Canada | Guelph Platers (OHL) |
| S1 | 1 | Dave Snuggerud | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| S2 | 6 | Mike DeCarle | United States | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |