1970–71 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1970–71 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' first season in the National Hockey League. The Sabres finished 5th in the East Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.
==Off-season==
The Buffalo Sabres, along with the Vancouver Canucks, joined the NHL in the 1970–71 season. The Sabres' first owners were Seymour and Northrup Knox, scions of a family long prominent in western New York. The team's name, selected through a fan contest, was chosen because it was known as a weapon carried by leaders, and it is also swift and strong on offense as well as defense. The Knoxes had tried twice before to get an NHL team, first when the NHL expanded in 1967, and then unsuccessfully attempting to buy the Oakland Seals with the intent of moving them to Buffalo. At the time of their creation, the Buffalo Sabres exercised their option to create their own AHL farm team, the Cincinnati Swords.
The Sabres had the first pick in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, which they used to select Gilbert Perreault.
===NHL Draft===
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team
1 	1 	Gilbert Perreault	 	Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
2 	15 	Butch Deadmarsh 	 	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
3 	29 	Steve Cuddie 	 	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
4 	43 	Randy Wyrozub 	 	Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
5 	57 	Mike Morton 	 	Shawinigan Bruins (QMJHL)
6 	71 	Mike Keeler 	 	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA)
7 	84 	Tim Regan 	 	Boston University Terriers (ECAC)
8 	97 	Doug Rombough 	 	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
9 	107	Luc Nadeau 	 	Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL)
==Regular Season==
After being fired by the Leafs, it was expected that Imlach would join the NHL's new Vancouver franchise. Imlach, Joe Crozier, and Foster Hewitt had become partners in the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League and were in line to become owners of the Vancouver NHL team. But they didn't have the financial resources to buy the team, which went to Medical Investment Corporation (Medicor). Medicor bought the WHL Canucks for $2.8 million, with Imlach making a reported gain of more than $250,000. He was offered a job with the NHL Canucks, but instead accepted an offer from the NHL's other expansion team, the Buffalo Sabres, as their first coach and general manager in 1970.
On December 10, the Boston Bruins had their first ever meeting with the Sabres. Despite the Bruins wildly out-shooting the Sabres, Joe Daley played fantastic in the first two periods, keeping the score tied at 2-2. However, an explosion of six goals in the third period saw the Bruins win 8-2. Daley was peppered with 72 shots, including 15 by Bobby Orr alone. Fred Stanfield had five points while John Bucyk had six.
Led by Perreault's 38 goals, the Sabres would 24–39–15, ahead of the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Division. However, they finished 19 points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs in the division, and finished 19 points short of a playoff berth.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W 	October 10, 1970 	2–1 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) 	1–0–0
2 	L 	October 14, 1970 	0–3 	@ New York Rangers (1970–71) 	1–1–0
3 	L 	October 15, 1970 	0–3 	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) 	1–2–0
4 	L 	October 17, 1970 	1–4 	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) 	1–3–0
5 	T 	October 18, 1970 	1–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) 	1–3–1
6 	L 	October 22, 1970 	2–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) 	1–4–1
7 	W 	October 23, 1970 	4–3 	Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) 	2–4–1
8 	L 	October 25, 1970 	0–4 	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) 	2–5–1
9 	L 	October 27, 1970 	2–7 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) 	2–6–1
10 	L 	October 30, 1970 	1–6 	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	2–7–1
11 	L 	November 1, 1970 	2–4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) 	2–8–1
12 	L 	November 5, 1970 	1–4 	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) 	2–9–1
13 	L 	November 7, 1970 	2–11 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) 	2–10–1
14 	L 	November 8, 1970 	1–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) 	2–11–1
15 	W 	November 13, 1970 	4–2 	California Golden Seals (1970–71) 	3–11–1
16 	T 	November 15, 1970 	2–2 	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) 	3–11–2
17 	W 	November 18, 1970 	7–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) 	4–11–2
18 	L 	November 21, 1970 	0–3 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) 	4–12–2
19 	T 	November 25, 1970 	4–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) 	4–12–3
20 	T 	November 26, 1970 	2–2 	New York Rangers (1970–71) 	4–12–4
21 	L 	November 29, 1970 	1–2 	California Golden Seals (1970–71) 	4–13–4
22 	T 	December 3, 1970 	4–4 	Boston Bruins (1970–71) 	4–13–5
23 	W 	December 6, 1970 	1–0 	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) 	5–13–5
24 	L 	December 9, 1970 	1–6 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) 	5–14–5
25 	L 	December 10, 1970 	2–8 	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71) 	5–15–5
26 	L 	December 12, 1970 	3–5 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) 	5–16–5
27 	L 	December 13, 1970 	0–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) 	5–17–5
28 	L 	December 16, 1970 	0–4 	@ New York Rangers (1970–71) 	5–18–5
29 	W 	December 17, 1970 	4–3 	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) 	6–18–5
30 	L 	December 19, 1970 	0–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) 	6–19–5
31 	L 	December 20, 1970 	2–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) 	6–20–5
32 	L 	December 22, 1970 	2–7 	New York Rangers (1970–71) 	6–21–5
33 	T 	December 26, 1970 	4–4 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) 	6–21–6
34 	W 	December 27, 1970 	5–2 	Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) 	7–21–6
35 	L 	January 1, 1971 	4–9 	Boston Bruins (1970–71) 	7–22–6
36 	L 	January 3, 1971 	3–5 	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) 	7–23–6
37 	W 	January 7, 1971 	7–4 	Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) 	8–23–6
38 	L 	January 9, 1971 	2–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) 	8–24–6
39 	T 	January 10, 1971 	2–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) 	8–24–7
40 	L 	January 13, 1971 	2–4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) 	8–25–7
41 	W 	January 14, 1971 	2–1 	St. Louis Blues (1970–71) 	9–25–7
42 	W 	January 16, 1971 	4–3 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) 	10–25–7
43 	T 	January 17, 1971 	4–4 	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) 	10–25–8
44 	T 	January 21, 1971 	5–5 	New York Rangers (1970–71) 	10–25–9
45 	L 	January 23, 1971 	1–7 	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) 	10–26–9
46 	W 	January 24, 1971 	6–4 	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) 	11–26–9
47 	T 	January 27, 1971 	3–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) 	11–26–10
48 	W 	January 29, 1971 	4–2 	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	12–26–10
49 	W 	January 31, 1971 	6–1 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) 	13–26–10
50 	W 	February 4, 1971 	5–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) 	14–26–10
51 	L 	February 6, 1971 	3–4 	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71) 	14–27–10
52 	L 	February 7, 1971 	3–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) 	14–28–10
53 	L 	February 9, 1971 	3–6 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) 	14–29–10
54 	L 	February 10, 1971 	1–5 	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	14–30–10
55 	W 	February 12, 1971 	3–0 	California Golden Seals (1970–71) 	15–30–10
56 	W 	February 14, 1971 	3–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) 	16–30–10
57 	L 	February 17, 1971 	1–5 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) 	16–31–10
58 	T 	February 18, 1971 	6–6 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) 	16–31–11
59 	L 	February 20, 1971 	5–6 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) 	16–32–11
60 	L 	February 21, 1971 	1–3 	St. Louis Blues (1970–71) 	16–33–11
61 	L 	February 23, 1971 	3–6 	Boston Bruins (1970–71) 	16–34–11
62 	L 	February 25, 1971 	2–3 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) 	16–35–11
63 	L 	February 27, 1971 	0–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) 	16–36–11
64 	W 	February 28, 1971 	5–2 	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) 	17–36–11
65 	T 	March 3, 1971 	3–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) 	17–36–12
66 	T 	March 5, 1971 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) 	17–36–13
67 	W 	March 7, 1971 	6–3 	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) 	18–36–13
68 	L 	March 13, 1971 	0–9 	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) 	18–37–13
69 	W 	March 14, 1971 	5–0 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) 	19–37–13
70 	W 	March 18, 1971 	5–3 	St. Louis Blues (1970–71) 	20–37–13
71 	L 	March 20, 1971 	2–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) 	20–38–13
72 	W 	March 21, 1971 	7–5 	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71) 	21–38–13
73 	L 	March 23, 1971 	2–7 	@ New York Rangers (1970–71) 	21–39–13
74 	W 	March 26, 1971 	3–1 	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) 	22–39–13
75 	W 	March 28, 1971 	4–2 	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) 	23–39–13
76 	W 	March 31, 1971 	6–4 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) 	24–39–13
77 	T 	April 1, 1971 	3–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) 	24–39–14
78 	T 	April 4, 1971 	3–3 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) 	24–39–15
==Playoffs==
*The Sabres failed to qualify for the post season.
==Player Stats==
===Skaters===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Gilbert Perreault	78	38	34	72 	19
Phil Goyette 	60	15	46	61 	6
Gerry Meehan 	77	24	31	55 	8
Don Marshall 	62	20	29	49 	6
Eddie Shack 	56	25	17	42 	93
Steve Atkinson 	57	20	18	38 	12
Paul Andrea 	47	11	21	32 	4
Al Hamilton 	69	2 	28	30 	71
Larry Keenan 	51	7 	20	27 	6
Doug Barrie 	75	4 	23	27 	168
Ron Anderson 	74	14	12	26 	44
Dick Duff 	53	7 	13	20 	12
Floyd Smith 	77	6 	11	17 	46
Reg Fleming 	78	6 	10	16 	159
Cliff Schmautz 	26	5 	7 	12 	10
Jim Watson 	78	2 	9 	11 	147
Skip Krake 	74	4 	5 	9 	68
Kevin O’Shea 	41	4 	4 	8 	8
Tracy Pratt 	76	1 	7 	8 	179
Jean-Guy Talbot 	57	0 	7 	7 	36
Randy Wyrozub 	16	2 	2 	4 	6
François Lacombe 	1 	0 	1 	1 	2
Bill Inglis 	14	0 	1 	1 	4
Brian Perry 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
Terry Ball 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
Paul Terbenche 	3 	0 	0 	0 	2
Jean-Guy Lagace 	3 	0 	0 	0 	2
Butch Deadmarsh 	10	0 	0 	0 	9
Mike McMahon, Jr.	12	0 	0 	0 	4
Brian McDonald 	12	0 	0 	0 	29
Hap Myers 	13	0 	0 	0 	6
===Goaltending===
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Player 	GP	W 	L 	T	SO	GAA
Dave Dryden 	10	3 	3 	3	1 	3.37
Roger Crozier	44	9 	20	7	1 	3.68
Joe Daley 	38	12	16	8	1 	3.70
==Awards and Records==
*Most goals by a rookie (38), Gilbert Perreault
*Calder Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Perreault
==Gallery==
6Feb1971-Orr_Daley_Marcotte.jpg|Bobby Orr, Don Marcotte and Sabres goalie Joe Daley, February 6, 1971.
Orr_goal-21Mar1971.gif|Bobby Orr from Ken Hodge, March 21, 1971.
==Video==
Film of the Sabres inaugural season including the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft and 1970 NHL Amateur Draft and many interviews. Footage of the Sabres first exhibition game (against the Rangers), a game versus Montreal, Toronto on November 18, 1970 (featuring Leafs goalie Murray McLachlan in one of his two NHL games), Detroit on February 20, 1971, Boston on February 23, Chicago on March 5, St. Louis on March 18 (Gilbert Perreault breaks the record for most goals by a rookie), Vancouver on March 26, 1971.
Two 1970 NHL Buffalo Sabres Films Sabres Ready, & Touché (Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs)
==References==
* Sabres on Hockey Database
Category:Buffalo Sabres seasons
Category:1970 in hockey
Category:1971 in hockey